REPORTS: Odemwingie linked to Black Cats

The Black Cats have reportedly approached Stoke City with a view to taking Peter Odemwingie on loan until the end of the season. The former Baggie has notched up goals wherever he has played however his effectiveness at the top level, given his lengthy spell on the side lines due to injury, is now questionable.

Infamously Odemwingie made headlines in 2013 when his move to Queens Park Rangers from West Brom failed to materialise on deadline day.  Speaking about Odemwingie's well publicised drive to Loftus Road at the time, his then manager Steve Clarke described it as 'lunacy'.

However the transfer deadline day shenanigans inevitably led Odemwingie to move on and Cardiff City paid £2.5mil for his services shortly after. The Russian born Nigerian forward scored 1 in 15 appearances for the Blue Birds. Stoke City subsequently made a move for the experienced attacker in 2014 where he has since managed 5 in 26.

As touched on above Odemwingie has been out of the game for a lengthy period after sustaining a significant knee injury during against Manchester City in September 2014. His road to recovery has been long and presumably Odemwingie is now looking for opportunities to help regain match fitness during the current transfer window.

Sunderland were recently linked with Swansea City's André Ayew with a mooted £14mil fee on the table for consideration. Frankly, Odemwingie feels very much like an alternative option and given the position the Black Cats find themselves is likely to be more realistic one.