Wyke will not strike a deal with Tractor Boys
CHARLIE IS STILL PART OF PARKY’S PLANS
SUNDERLAND have no plans to sell Charlie Wyke, despite a report linking the striker with a move to Ipswich.
The report claimed a ‘recruitment source’ had suggested the Black Cats could sell Wyke because he has entered the final year of his contract - and said Tractor Boys’ manager Paul Lambert was an admirer.
However, the Chronicle understands that is wide of the mark and Sunderland intend to keep the 27-year-old forward.
Wyke started every match and led the line during the post-Christmas run which saw Phil Parkinson’s side collect 30 points from 14 games.
Parkinson spoke last week about retaining the core of the side involved in that run and Wyke fits firmly into that bracket.
The former Bradford City frontman has struggled with injuries and found goals hard to come by during his two years at the club but Parkinson nevertheless feels he makes an important contribution leading the line.
Rather than offloading Wyke, Sunderland will be looking to add at least one striker before the new season begins as part of a recruitment drive in which Parkinson has said he wants ‘seven or eight’ new arrivals.
The Black Cats were also linked with two other players over the weekend, midfielder Jay Spearing and Ipswich winger Gwion
Edwards put forward as potential targets.
However, neither player is understood to be among the names being considered.
Spearing is a free agent after leaving Blackpool and the link with Sunderland appears solely to stem from the fact the 31-year-old played under Parkinson at Bolton Wanderers, winning promotion from League One with the club in 2017.
As for Edwards, he saw his contract at Portman Road extended by a further year only last month, making a move for him highly unlikely.
Another player who has been repeatedly linked with the Black Cats is experienced goalkeeper Ben Alnwick, who began his career on Wearside before leaving to join Spurs in 2007.
His five years at White Hart Lane included just one first-team appearance for Spurs and seven loan spells.
More recently Alnwick has played for Barnsley, Charlton Athletic,
Leyton Orient, Peterborough United and Bolton, where he played under Parkinson.
Alnwick’s contract with Bolton was terminated by mutual agreement in December and soon after that he spent a short period training with the Black Cats.
Sunderland are on the lookout for a replacement for Jon McLaughlin after the Scotland international turned down a new deal last month to join Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers and 33-year-old Alnwick is one potential candidate.
Parkinson has already confirmed the search has begun for another goalkeeper saying: “We need to bring in another senior goalkeeper as cover and competition for Lee Burge and we will press on with that.”
Young shotstopper Anthony Patterson signed a new contract with the club last month but is likely to be loaned out to gain first-team experience.
Parkinson added: “Anthny is still young and what he needs is to gain experience of senior football.
“We will look to loan him out in the early part of next season.”