MIDDLESBROUGH and Sunderland are both hopeful of adding to their forward line this week, with Boro in talks with Bristol City over Tommy Conway and the Black Cats continuing their efforts to sign a striker.

Here's the latest from both clubs in this week's North East Notes.

MIDDLESBROUGH LOAN STANCE

Plenty of Championship clubs are waiting for bosses in the Premier League to make their mind up on potential loan exits - but Middlesbrough aren't one of them.

As things stand, Boro aren't planning to use the top flight loan market.

Of course, things can change between now and the end of the window, but it's not currently in Boro's thinking.

As reported earlier this summer when Will Lankshear was being heavily linked with a loan move to Teesside, Boro's preference has always been permanent signings with leading targets having long been identified.

It's since emerged that Bristol City's Tommy Conway is one of those targets, with talks between Boro and the Robins ongoing.

While temporary signings from the Premier League are not currently being discussed, Boro have shown their recruitment flexibility in recent windows and will adapt their plans if needed - but as things stand that's not the case.

Signing a left-back is now another priority after Michael Carrick confirmed Alex Bangura faces a long lay-off after achilles surgery.

The addition of a right sided attacker is also being discussed with a date for Marcus Forss' return unclear as things stand.

SUNDERLAND'S IKE UGBO BATTLE

Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl is hoping to avoid more Sunderland disappointment in the transfer market.

The Black Cats have already beaten the Owls to the signing of Ian Poveda this summer and are now interested in leading Wednesday striker target Ike Ugbo.

Wednesday and Troyes are said to have agreed a fee for the Canada international and Ugbo is reportedly keen on re-joining the Owls having spent the second half of last season on loan at Hillsborough.

But Sunderland have now also entered the race, with the future of Caen striker Alexandre Mendy still unclear.

Wednesday boss Rohl said on Saturday of the Ugbo battle: “When you go into a race, you want to win that race, of course. We push our speed at the moment, but the other clubs push as well their speed. Now we come to the final 10 metres and hopefully we are a little bit in front, we have a photo finish and we win this race.”

He added: “To score you need a number nine!

“We have some number nines who have improved, they have different profiles. I think we look back to the second half of the season and we took a lot of points because we scored more than in the first leg. To make the squad final, to make it really interesting, then some impact players would be helpful.

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EX-SUNDERLAND STRIKER TARGET HAS CLUBS ON RED ALERT

On the subject of strikers, Jay Stansfield - a target for Sunderland 12 months ago - could be on the move this summer, despite Fulham boss Marco Silva ruling out another loan at the end of last season.

Stansfield impressed in the Championship with Birmingham City last season, emerging with credit despite the Blues suffering relegation to League One.

And reports in the capital this week claimed Fulham will now potentially be open to allowing the striker to leave. A loan would be a preference but a permanent sale is not being ruled out.

Hull City are keen but Birmingham are hoping to re-sign the striker.

Despite their relegation, City have been bold in the transfer market this summer, with Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony recently saying on his podcast: "Birmingham are blowing everyone out of the water financially. But good luck to them. This is the business we are in and if we were a club of that size it’s exactly what we would do. If they are bidding £6-7m for Stansfield then fair play."

Birmingham boss Chris Davies said this week: "There’s always a chance. He’s a player that won all the awards last year, and when I analysed the team before I came in he was the stand-out player. He’s gone back to a really good Premier League club that obviously value him highly and they have their own plans and their own ambitions. If he became available and we could do it, it would be something that would be really exciting for everyone. But everyone knows it will be a challenge to do that.”

BELLINGHAMS IN-DEMAND

Finally, and staying with Sunderland, Jude Bellingham was the star attraction at Valley Parade on Saturday, with the Real Madrid superstar opting to take advantage of his extended summer break by taking the chance to watch his younger brother in action.

Word soon got out that Bellingham was in the directors' box after he took his seat 10 minutes before kick-off, sparking a flurry of activity as fans tried to get a close as possible for pictures. That was still the case when the game kicked off - and dozens of supporters then hung around at the main entrance of Bradford's ground at full-time in the hope of a glimpse of the England star as he left.

But Jude wasn't the only Bellingham in demand. A group of selfie-hunting Bradford ball-boys gathered outside Sunderland's dressing room at full-time and when Mike Dodds asked which player they wanted to get pictures with, 'Jobe' was the reply, without hesitation.