SUNDERLAND are hoping to sign Lewis Morgan and Will Grigg ahead of tomorrow night’s transfer deadline after a busy few days began with confirmation of Grant Leadbitter’s return to Wearside.

Leadbitter’s second spell as a Sunderland player could begin in Saturday’s home game with AFC Wimbledon after his move from Middlesbrough was finalised yesterday morning, with the 33-year-old having signed a two-and-a-half year contract at the Stadium of Light.

Leadbitter, who joined Sunderland’s academy at the age of 16 and went on to make more than 110 senior appearances for the club before joining Ipswich Town in 2009, became Sunderland’s second January signing when he penned his new deal, but Jack Ross is hoping to complete two more additions before the transfer window closes at 11pm tomorrow.

The Northern Echo:

Morgan should be the first of those two signings, with the Celtic defender having opted to join Sunderland instead of remaining in Scotland with Aberdeen.

Both Sunderland and Aberdeen expressed an interest in taking the 22-year-old winger on loan for the remainder of the season, and Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers indicated he was happy for either move to take place.

Morgan was effectively given the choice of which destination he would prefer, and the youngster has told Celtic officials he would like to head to Wearside.

Ross is understood to have played a hugely influential role in his decision, with the current Sunderland boss having been his manager during a loan spell at St Mirren last season.

Morgan’s form was one of the key factors in St Mirren’s successful promotion from the Scottish Championship last term, and the winger felt he gained a great deal from working under Ross.

The pair will be reunited ahead of tomorrow’s deadline provided Sunderland officials can agree the financial terms of his temporary move to the Stadium of Light.

Morgan’s arrival would increase Sunderland’s attacking options, but with Josh Maja having joined Bordeaux and Jerome Sinclair having cut short his loan deal to return to Watford, Ross is also determined to bring in a natural centre-forward.

Grigg remains his preferred option, and despite having had four separate offers rejected, senior Black Cats officials held another round of talks with their counterparts at Wigan Athletic’s DW Stadium yesterday.

The Latics continue to dig in their heels, but Sunderland’s recruitment team remain confident they can broker an agreement before the window closes.

They are also looking at contingency plans though, and while Barnsley’s Kieffer Moore has been ruled out as too expensive, Doncaster Rovers’ John Marquis and Gillingham’s Tom Eaves are being considered as potential alternatives.

Marquis currently tops the League One goalscoring charts with 16 goals – one more than Maja managed in the league – while Eaves’ 14 league goals this season also make him one of the most prolific marksmen in the third tier.

Forcing through a deal for either player would not be easy with the transfer deadline looming, but Sunderland will switch their sights if there is not significant progress with the Grigg situation in the next 24 hours.

Leadbitter’s return was a much easier deal to broker, and while the midfielder admits there was a strong emotional pull to his return to Wearside, he insists he has not returned to his roots solely for sentimental reasons.

“When you’re a born-and-bred Sunderland fan and there’s an opportunity to come back to the football club, well, I was never going to say no, I can tell you that,” said Leadbitter.

“But I’m here to do a job and help the club. The football club means a lot to me for sentimental reasons, but I’ve spoken to Jack Ross a lot in the last few days, and I’m excited by his plans. I share his ambitions and I really can’t wait to get going.”

Leadbitter will be battling with Lee Cattermole, Max Power, Dylan McGeouch and George Honeyman for a central-midfield place.