Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has admitted that Connor Wickham will be sold unless he signs a new contract. The 21 year old is now considered to be an important figure, with the potential which saw him complete an £8million move in 2011 finally being fulfilled.
Wickham is, however, only tied to a deal until next summer and Poyet is wary of allowing that agreement to run down and risk losing a saleable asset on a free transfer.
He said in the Sunderland Echo: "For me, Connor's situation is clear. He needs to sign a new contract or we let him go - we sell him. There is nothing in between.
"He is an asset to the football club and we paid a lot of money for him.
"Last year, he was a key part of us staying up and he was very important. But he needs to realise that the club needs to look after the interests of the football club as well.
"I suppose that, one way or another, we are going to have an agreement.
"Which one of those is going to happen, I don't know - it is not my job, that is (sporting director) Lee Congerton's department."
