AFTER the capture of Pierre Ekwah, Sunderland and Tony Mowbray will turn their attention to bolstering the forward line in the last week of the window.

The Black Cats want some much-needed cover and competition for Ross Stewart, who is, as things stand, the only senior striker on the club's books.

In an ideal world, Sunderland would like to sign one striker on a permanent deal and another on loan, with Ellis Simms' situation at Everton something that has been monitored throughout the course of the month.

While not pinning all their hopes on being able to re-sign Simms, Sunderland would have jumped at the chance to get the striker back on Wearside, but his situation and short-term future is now even more uncertain after the sacking of Frank Lampard.

Having played for both Sunderland and Everton this season, had the Toffees decided to allow Simms to go back out on loan then Sunderland would have been the only club he could have joined.

But unless the Premier League strugglers make a swift appointment, giving the new head coach chance to watch Simms and make a quick decision on the striker's future, it seems most likely that the 22-year-old will now spend the rest of the season at Goodison Park.

It all hinges on what Everton do next - and how quickly they do it. Former Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa is the current favourite with the bookies, ahead of Sean Dyche and Duncan Ferguson.

Quizzed on the chances of a Simms return, Mowbray said last week, before the Lampard sacking: "We can't wait for Everton to decide whether Ellis Simms is coming back or not. If we sign some players and we don't need another centre-forward, he won't be coming back - that's the reality.

"It sounds like a threat but it's not meant to be. We just have to do our business and look after Sunderland AFC by bringing in another option or two as strikers. If the phone rings this afternoon and Everton say he can come back, the club has to make a decision whether to stop the negotiations that we are doing elsewhere and bring Ellis back.

"We're spinning plates, really. If the other options fall into place, it's not likely we will be able to pay X-thousand pounds a week for Ellis to come in and sit on our bench.

"That's football, we have to do what's right for us. As far as I know, Everton are trying to sign strikers and if they sign them then Ellis probably gets pushed down the line a litttle bit and the opportunity fo him to come back becomes greater.

"But if we sign two strikers before then, there's every chance he won't be coming back."

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Despite not having a manager in place, Everton are reportedly set to confirm the loan signing of Arnaut Danjuma.

Danjuma, who was wanted by several Premier League clubs this month, was previously a winger for Bournemouth but has mostly played up-front in Spain for Villarreal.

If that deal gets the green light, then Everton club bosses and recruitment chiefs could potentially make a call on Simms, but they're more likely to consider the thoughts of their new boss - if they can source a replacement for Lampard this week.

Simms has played 15 minutes of Premier League football from the bench since he was recalled by Everton at the start of the window.