Sunderland's Dick Advocaat says he does not necessarily want to offload promising striker Connor Wickham.

The 22-year-old is set to be sold to Crystal Palace for £9million and Advocaat admits it is not a situation he wants to be in.

However, the Black Cats boss suggests his hands are tied as he already has enough attacking players in a similar mould to Wickham who arrived at the Stadium of Light from Ipswich Town in 2011.

"We have too many strikers and if I could have held on to them all I wouldn't really have wanted to sell him at just 22," Advocaat said.

"However, we simply had too many players in that position and that is why the decision was made."

Sunderland currently have Steven Fletcher and Danny Graham on the books which led to the north east club's decision on Wickham.