SUNDERLAND have held preliminary talks over Kieffer Moore, but are one of a number of Championship clubs waiting for Bournemouth to make a decision over the Wales striker.

The Black Cats’ recruitment team, led by sporting director Kristjaan Speakman, are keen to sign another centre-forward this month.

There is an acceptance that an experienced alternative is needed to supplement the four forwards that were brought in during the summer, with Moore currently heading a list of targets that is also understood to include Blackburn Rovers forward Sam Gallagher.

Moore’s position has been discussed with the hierarchy at Bournemouth, with Cherries boss Andoni Iraola willing to allow the 31-year-old to leave the Vitality Stadium.

Moore joined Bournemouth from Cardiff City in January 2022, but has struggled to establish himself on the south coast.

He has not made a single Premier League start this season, with Iraola tending to rely on Antoine Semenyo and Dango Ouattara as the main attacking alternatives to his established number one striker, Dominic Solanke.

Moore was handed only a second start of the campaign in last weekend’s FA Cup third-round tie at QPR, and responded with the headed goal that helped Bournemouth stage a second-half comeback that eventually resulted in a 3-2 win.

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He is keen to secure more regular football in the second half of the season as he is determined to retain his place in the Wales squad ahead of March’s play-offs for a place at this summer’s Euros.

As a physical, target-man, Moore is a very different type of striker to the forwards currently on Sunderland’s books, and would provide Black Cats head coach Michael Beale with a welcome alternative attacking option in the second half of the season.

However, Sunderland will have to fight off competition from a host of Championship clubs in order to sign him, with Cardiff City, Ipswich Town and Norwich City all understood to have held discussions with Bournemouth officials.

Leeds United have also been linked with a possible move, with Moore and his representatives yet to decide on their preferred option.

Even then, any deal would be dependent on Bournemouth agreeing to the financial framework of a loan agreement, which could be problematic given Moore’s wages.

The striker is earning more than any player currently within the Sunderland squad, and Bournemouth would want to keep their own financial commitment to a minimum if they were to sanction the forward’s exit for the second half of the season.

A permanent transfer would appear to be off the table given that Bournemouth spent around £4m to sign Moore two years ago, and that the striker is contracted to the Vitality Stadium until the summer of 2025.