SUNDERLAND are involved in a head-to-head battle with Bolton Wanderers as they look to land Bradford City striker Charlie Wyke.

Having had a £600,000 bid for Wyke rejected last week, Sunderland returned to the table over the weekend with an offer that could be worth up to £1m.

Bradford officials have accepted that Wyke is extremely unlikely to sign a new deal at Valley Parade, and are determined to get the highest possible price for the former Middlesbrough trainee, who recently entered the final year of his current contract.

They are aware of competing interest from Bolton, and the Championship club are set to make an offer of their own in the next 24 hours with Wanderers boss Phil Parkinson urging his chairman, Ken Anderson, to force through a deal.

If Bolton match Sunderland’s offer, the decision will be left to Wyke, with the striker expected to be fit for the start of the Football League season despite hobbling out of Bradford’s friendly with Sheffield United last week.

Bolton can offer a move to the Championship, but a transfer to Sunderland would enable Middlesbrough-born Wyke to return to his North-East roots.

Sunderland made another bid for a forward over the weekend, having accepted that Mohamed Eisa will be joining Bristol City.

Their chances of signing George Evans have receded markedly, with the Reading midfielder refusing to commit to a move to Wearside as he waits for potential interest from the Championship to develop.

Reading have accepted Sunderland’s offer for Evans, but the 23-year-old is also the subject of strong interest from Derby County.