Sunderland boss Gus Poyet hasn't given up on keeping Jack Colback, who is off contract in June.
He hinted that the player may be waiting to see if the club stay in the top flight.
"We started negotiations a few weeks ago now," he revealed. "The situation with the negotiations has changed a little bit, because there's another person in charge now (that Roberto De Fanti has departed).
"Let's hope. It's important not to be too aggressive in terms of the contract because of the position we're in, and of course you need to be realistic. They'll say 'Let's wait, let's see where we finish'. It works both ways."
