Sunderland and Celtic will go head-to-to head for the signature of Manchester City’s forgotten striker Roque Santa Cruz.
The 30-year-old Paraguayan has started just eight games at City – scoring four times -since signing from Blackburn two years ago for £17m.
Santa Cruz is likely to leave the Etihad Stadium for far less as City to offload him, having cost the blues £8m in wages during his spell at the club.
Sunderland boss Bruce has already signed rising striking star Connor Wickham from Ipswich this summer to boost his attacking options.
But he sees Santa Cruz as an experienced alternative to Ghana World Cup star Asamoah Gyan.
Spanish sides Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano are interested in signing the Paraguay international on loan, but City are said to have dismissed their offers as insufficient.
Santa Cruz was of the most feared strikers in the Premier League during his time at Ewood Park in 2007-09 in which he netted 23 times in 57 appearances.
He returned to Blackburn in January on loan for the remainder of the season, but he failed to score in nine appearances.
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