Saturday 18 October 2014 11:11, UK
Sunderland consider a contract extension for Connor Wickham to be a top priority, with Wes Brown waiting on talks.
Both men have entered the final year of their current deals and will become free agents next summer if fresh terms cannot be agreed.
Sunderland hope Wickham can be prevented from dropping into that particular pool, with discussions with his representatives progressing positively.
We’re doing things in a certain way and timescale. But, for sure. Wes will know when we’re doing it and how. I think it’s a matter of timing.
Experienced centre-half Brown must be patient, though, as his situation is unlikely to be addressed until the New Year.
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet told the Echo: “We’re doing things in a certain way and timescale.
“But, for sure. Wes will know when we’re doing it and how. I think it’s a matter of timing.”
On Wickham, he added: “I think we are in contact already.
“I don’t want to get involved in the negotiations, to affect what we do. We’ll see.
“We are doing things right, quietly, and then when we reach an agreement, it will come out.
“It’s important that we don’t make mistakes.”
Meanwhile, Poyet says he is yet to make a decision on trialist Anthony Reveillere, with the 34-year-old France international available as a free agent and providing one possible solution for Sunderland as they deal with a defensive injury crisis.
The Uruguayan said of the former Lyon and Napoli full-back: “It depends on his fitness really.
“He played a lot in Italy last season and he was always a player who played plenty of games in France. That shows you that he’s a fit lad, and he looks fit.
“The problem is England is completely different. You cannot compare it.
“People think we exaggerate that, but it’s true. Ask Ricky (Alvarez). The first half-hour against Spurs, it was like he was on another planet.
“You need to see that and put it into games, which is the most difficult part.
“At the moment, he’s only training with us.
“Of course, it would be easier if no-one knew anything, but nowadays it’s impossible to do that.
“It’s just a matter of seeing in the next few days if we can do something.”
