Sunderland have submitted a bid to Wigan for striker Will Grigg, Sky Sports News understands.
Grigg helped fire the Latics to promotion in League One last season but has managed to score only four goals in 16 appearances so far this campaign.
The Black Cats are looking to bolster their attacking options as they look to bounce straight back to the second tier, and have submitted an official bid to bring the Northern Ireland international to the Stadium of Light on a permanent deal.
It comes as youth product Josh Maja, League One second top scorer with 14 goals, told Sunderland he will not be renewing his contract and might be on his way out in January with Huddersfield, Crystal Palace and Cardiff among interested clubs, according to Sky sources.
Sunderland chairman Stewart Donald joked about the rumours on his Twitter account but denied the Wigan man had completed a medical on Wearside.
"We are working hard in January but we have work to do yet to get the players we want, and I am sure we will be linked with almost everyone so we will just wink all the way through January," he said.
In the meantime, Sunderland are close to confirming the signing of 21-year-old Burnley and Republic of Ireland defender Jimmy Dunne.
Dunne is currently undergoing a medical at the Academy of Light and is set to sign a loan deal until the end of the season.
A Manchester United youth product, Dunne impressed during the first half of the season on loan at Hearts, where he collected 14 appearances and two goals and earned a maiden call-up to the senior Republic of Ireland squad in November.