Sunderland manager Poyet with ultimatum for Connor Wickham: Sign a new deal or be sold

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet is not willing to play games with regards to the future of striker Connor Wickham.

Wickham, who reportedly rejected a four-year contract extension from the club earlier this summer, is now into the final year of his deal, and Poyet has delivered a very clear ultimatum in the hopes of avoiding losing the 21-year-old on a free transfer next summer.

“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," Poyet told the Sunderland Echo, via Sky Sports.

The manager continued:

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.

Wickham was indeed crucial in helping the Black Cats miraculously stave off relegation last season, scoring five goals late in the campaign - three of those against Manchester City and Chelsea - after returning from a loan spell with Leeds United in March.

Sunderland paid £8 million for his services in 2011, and considering his impressive, albeit brief, stretch at the end of last season - combined with his age - should not have much issue recouping (or even exceeding) that fee considering the inflated transfer market we have seen this summer throughout Europe.