Hartlepool UNITED are interested in taking former Sunderland striker Martyn Waghorn back to the North-East.

Pools boss Neale Cooper is on the look out for a new striker and has been looking to add free agent Steve Howard to his ranks. There is also an interest in former Leeds front-man Mike Grella.

But Hartlepool have been alerted to the possibility of Leicester City being willing to listen to offers for Waghorn after falling out of favour last season.

There is some stiff competition for the young man from South Shields, with Championship clubs Derby County and Bristol City also known to have shown an interest.

Pools are hoping the prospect of a return to the region could prove attractive, although it could be a lengthy loan deal will be the most likely scenario.

Waghorn, who left Sunderland in the summer of 2010, still has two more years to run on the contract he signed when the Foxes agreed to pay £2m rising to £3m.

Cooper is desperate to improve Hartlepool's firepower ahead of his first full season back in charge at Victoria Park and Waghorn has emerged as one of his leading targets.

Hartlepool have already been in touch with target-man Howard, who is also interesting Notts County after his release from Leicester, but are yet to hear of the player's decision.

Grella, 25, whose contract at Bury ended over the weekend, is now a free agent and has interested Scunthorpe.

Cooper is also keen to take Sunderland's teenage prospect Ryan Noble back for a second loan. The likelihood of that happening, however, is likely to depend largely on how successful the move for Waghorn is.

The former England Under-21 international made his first team debut for Sunderland against Manchester United on Boxing Day 2007. He was handed a two-year contract by Roy Keane in February 2008 but was moved on by Steve Bruce two years later.

His time at Leicester looked like coming to an end last season when he moved to Hull City on loan. However, that was cut short because of a hamstring injury and he returned to action for Leicester's final two Championship games of the season.

Former Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Grounds, meanwhile, has joined Oldham. Hartlepool had shown an interest in teaming up with Jonathan Franks, but have cooled on the idea in recent weeks.