Sunderland to cash in on Wickham

The Evening Chronicle has learned that Sunderland will probably have no choice but to cash in on star striker Connor Wickham in the January window.

Even with his contract due to expire at the end of the current campaign, the Black Cats rejected a £5 million bid from West Ham last month, probably hoping they would be able to persuade the youngster into signing a new deal.

However, given that Wickham is not interested in extending his contract at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland will probably be forced to sell him in January.

Crystal Palace are believed to be leading the chase at the moment as their new boss Neil Warnock has been impressed by the 21-year-old.

Connor Wickham showed a great deal of promise last season, having bagged 5 goals in 9 Premier League matches since returning from a loan spell at Leeds, but it looks as though he won’t be staying with the Black Cats for much longer.