Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher heading to Marseille for loan talks

Fletcher is out-of-contract at the end of the season and Sunderland have given no indication of keeping the 28-year-old, with Celtic keen to land the Scotland international on a Bosman deal in the summer.

But while Fletcher's long-term future is uncertain, the frontman is on the verge of spending the rest of the campaign on loan at Marseille.

The Ligue 1 outfit will have to cover Fletcher's wages, yet Sam Allardyce has been prepared to offload the ex-Wolves man, who hasn't featured in the Premier League during 2016.

Sunderland have already brought in one new striker so far this month after the loan capture of Dame N'Doye.

And allowing Fletcher to go would free up a sizeable chunk of wages to potentially be reinvested in further deadline day signings.