Tuesday 12 August 2014 13:44, UK
Sunderland have rejected a bid from West Ham for striker Connor Wickham.
The Hammers, who are in need of a target man with Andy Carroll expected to be out until December with an ankle injury, submitted the undisclosed bid on Monday morning.
But Sunderland are keen to keep hold of the 21-year-old, who had a superb end to last season, scoring five goals in nine games to help the club avoid relegation from the Premier League.
This came after the striker had spent a successful loan spell in the Championship with Sheffield Wednesday, where he scored eight goals in 11 games, and a less impressive temporary stint at Leeds, during which he failed to score in five appearances.
Wickham began his career with Ipswich and joined Sunderland for £8m in June 2011.
