Bournemouth striker Lewis Grabban has emerged as a transfer target for Championship leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers this month. The 29-year-old recently returned to the south Coast after a fruitful loan stint with Sunderland for whom he contributed 12 goals in just 20 outings.

Grabban sought to end his temporary stay with Sunderland owing to his desire to pursue a permanent deal, and according to The Birmingham Mail, the Wolves are deemed the frontrunners to secure his services. Grabban has not found much success with Eddie Howe's side since his return in 2016, and he is more or less expected to return to the Championship, where he could have a lifeline with the Wolves.

Nuno Espirito's side have bridged a 12-point gap between themselves and the trailing pack in the Championship, and they are nevertheless not resting on their laurels with the manager keen to reinforce the frontline further. Leo Bonatini and Diogo Jota have proved revelations since their season-long loans from Al-Hilal and Atletico Madrid respectively, but Grabban is being seen as an ideal backup plan for the future, should they fail to secure permanent deals for the aforementioned duo.

Aside from the Wolves, Grabban is also of interest to both Aston Villa and Cardiff City, who are equally looking to bolster their striking options in order to push for top-flight promotion. Meanwhile, Grabban's decision to leave Sunderland is likely to have a significant impact on the Wearside outfit, who may have to find another potential recruit, who could salvage their season.

The Black Cats are facing the prospect of facing back-to-back relegations, and this could come as a huge embarrassment, considering the club have built a reputation for themselves from their time in the Premier League, where they survived multiple relegation fights, each under a different head coach. Chris Coleman's side are currently two points adrift of safety.