Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill has been linked with a swoop for Bolton captain Kevin Davies, who is out of contract in the summer.
The veteran striker has slipped down the pecking order at the Reebok Stadium of late and O'Neill is said to be keen on a loan move for the forward.
The Sunderland boss would not comment on specific players, but did admit he is on the lookout for experienced additions in attack after losing Nicklas Bendtner to injury.
O'Neill told the Sunderland Echo: "The loan market is something that ourselves and others are looking at but there doesn't seem to be a lot of stuff happening.
"We had a passive interest in things but the Nicklas Bendtner situation - with him being out for weeks - means that it is now something that we really have to look at.
"We are left with several up and coming young strikers now and three or four tough months ahead of us. A lot of deals are dependent on what other clubs do.
"Teams are unlikely to want to sell too many good players in the window. But I have to look at bolstering the squad and see if we can do something if at all possible."
A number of clubs have been linked with Davies in recent weeks, including West Brom, Wolves and SPL pair Celtic and Rangers, but boss Owen Coyle has insisted he has no plans to allow the 34-year-old to move on.
However, Coyle is on the hunt for forwards himself and recently took Philadelphia Union striker Sebastien Le Toux on trial, although it remains to be seen if a move will materialise after the forward returned to the US.
If Coyle can secure another striker in January his stance on Davies may soften, but the Wanderers are more likely to seek a permanent transfer for their captain rather than allow him to leave on loan and become a free agent in the summer.