SCOTTISH Premiership rivals Aberdeen and Hibs are involved in a transfer tug-of-war for Sunderland's Bailey Wright, with both sides in desperate need of bolstering their defence this month.

The Dons have the second worst defensive record in the division and were thumped 5-0 by Hearts on Wednesday night in what "embarrassed" under-fire boss Jim Goodwin described as a "humiliating" defeat.

Goodwin is desperate to strengthen his backline and Wright is one of the players on Aberdeen's radar, with reports in Scotland saying the Dons are pushing for a loan move for the Australia international.

Aberdeen's head of recruitment is Tony Mowbray's brother, Darren, and the Premiership club are said to be hopeful those links will increase their chances of beating Hibs - and Sunderland's former boss Lee Johnson - to Wright.

Johnson knows Wright well having signed the defender for Bristol City from Preston back in 2017. The pair then linked up again at the Stadium of Light.

Hibs are in need of a centre-half this month to replace the outgoing Ryan Porteous, who is wanted by Blackburn Rovers, Udinese and Toulouse.

Udinese are already said to have had one bid rejected tor Porteous, who turned down a new deal to stay at Hibs earlier this season. Sunderland's promotion rivals Blackburn have now made a six-figure offer of their own.

Wright was a key man last season, featuring in 37 of Sunderland's 46 League One fixtures, but game-time has been harder to come by this season, with the 30-year-old having only started six games.

Despite his role on the fringes this season, boss Mowbray has praised Wright at every opportunity and told of the importance of the defender in the dressing room.

He said: “Bailey is an amazing human being, a fantastic guy. He’s the most vocal, supportive member of the dressing room before and after the game regardless of whether he’s actually played or not.

"He’s a diamond of a lad. What a guy. And yet he has real competition in his path. The competition is huge but what he brings to the table as a person and as a team player is fantastic for this football club.”

There's no shortage of centre-backs at Sunderland, with Daniel Ballard, Danny Batth, Aji Alese and Luke O’Nien all providing competition for Wright.

READ MORE:

It's at the other end of the pitch that Mowbray is keen to strengthen this month, with the Black Cats in the market for two strikers - one on loan and one permanent.

One forward who has been linked is Leeds United's Joe Gelhardt, but he now looks set to return to his former club Wigan Athletic on loan.

Sunderland are one of several Championship clubs to be linked with a loan move for Brighton striker Deniz Undav, while reports in France claim the Black Cats are in talks with Lille over the signing of 20-year-old attacker Isaac Lihadji.

Meanwhile, former Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy looks set to take charge of Blackpool after the sacking of Michael Appleton.

Appleton lost his job on Wednesday with the Seasiders second bottom in the Championship, with McCarthy said to have been lined up to take charge until the end of the season.