CHRIS Wilder has confirmed Sheffield United have made a bid to sign Sunderland target Tom Cannon - as the battle for the in-demand Leicester City striker hots up.

Cannon was recalled from Stoke, where he scored nine goals in the first half of the season, but will be on the move again before the end of the window.

Sunderland were interested in signing Cannon in the summer and have again been in contact with Leicester. The Black Cats are understood to have initially proposed a loan move until the end of the season, with a view to a permanent deal worth around £13m should they win promotion.

Burnley have also been linked this week, while there's said to be Premier League interest from Everton, whose new manager David Moyes this week admitted he needs to find a quick solution to his side's attacking woes.

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It's not clear at this stage whether the Clarets or Everton have tabled a bid, but Sheffield United have, as confirmed by Wilder on Friday morning.

He told the Sheffield Star: “There's a bid gone in. Other clubs want the player. I'm not going to hide behind anything or mug anyone off; we're in the race for Tom and there's a lot of other things that have got to happen as well.

“We're in the race for a couple of others as well and we have to have those contingency plans. The owners want to back the recruitment team in association with the new data route we're going down and everything adds up. We're in discussions about a player, there's no point trying to disguise that. The really good thing about it is that we’re looking to improve and invest with a couple of permanent signings.

“Who, hopefully, can play their part in the second part of our season and going forward. That's where it's at. If we don't then we'll move on to other targets that are reasonable and are value for money as well. And if there isn't anyone we'll not do any business on the permanent front. but the owners are supporting what we're trying to do and that can only be positive news.”

Asked specifically about Cannon, Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris said earlier this week: “I like good players. It's interesting to watch the good players in the league, but I can't say anything more because it's so unpredictable, and so difficult to find the good connection with what we are doing here and someone who can fit with what we expect.

“Speculation is speculation and I can't comment on anything on that. Just that I like good players, we like good players.”