Middlesbrough missed out on Emil Riis in August and could now target Preston North End favourite Cameron Archer to bolster their attack.
Boro signed two strikers over the summer as Matthew Hoppe and Marcus Forss arrived at the Riverside Stadium.
Chris Wilder still wanted another forward though and pushed to sign PNE striker Riis before the summer deadline.
North End stood firm and rejected Boro’s bid before Wilder ultimately lost his job following a dismal start to the season.
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Michael Carrick came in as his replacement and his first game in charge was actually a 2-1 defeat away at PNE.
Carrick now wants another striker just as Wilder did, and fancies landing the sticker who made such an impact alongside Riis last season.
TEAMtalk claim that Carrick has made Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer his top target for the January window.
Archer joined PNE on loan from Villa back in January and excelled with seven goals in 20 appearances for North End.
Archer returned to Villa with hope of playing Premier League football but it just hasn’t materialised.
The 21-year-old looks set to go out on loan again in January and PNE continue to ask Villa about another deal for the striker.
Yet with Boro now joining the race, PNE’s hopes are severely dented.
Boro can pay a larger contribution of Archer’s Villa wages and that may give them the upper hand over North End.
Seeing Archer join another Championship club would certainly hurt but it’s something we may have to come to terms with ahead of January.
Let’s hope for a favour from Villa but Boro going for Archer after missing out on Riis would be yet another sliding doors moment in football.