IS MAJA SET FOR MOVE?
More than one Championship side have firmed up their interest in Josh Maja ahead of the January transfer window.
Sunderland have received offers from the second tier for the 19-year-old, whose contract expires in the summer.
The Black Cats have offered a new deal to the striker, who has been in sensational form this season.
A raft of sides have been linked with a swoop, including Bristol City and Middlesbrough.
Sunderland are waiting on a response from Maja and his representatives with the winter window set to open in just under a month’s time.
Maja has previously said that he would be happy to stay with the club as it bids to fight its way back to the Premier League, and has regularly praised manager Jack Ross for showing faith in his abilities.
He is the highest scoring teenager in the Football League by a considerable distance, and no player in League One with five goals or more has a better goals-per-minute record. In turn, Ross has praised the maturity of the youngster and says the speculation has ‘washed over’ both of them. On Thursday, Ross admitted that there were no updates on the talks as of yet but speaking last week, reaffirmed his belief that Maja would stay at the club.
“There has been continued dialogue between the board and their representatives,” Ross said.
“Like everything, sometimes these things are more prolonged but there is nothing as yet that would suggest they are not going to stay at the club, which is good.
“There are little bits and pieces that have to be tidied up, that is what the two parties are in the process of trying to do.
“The great thing for me is they are both playing well.
“There are two sides to that; one it makes them more attractive to other people but two it makes it more difficult for them to not want to be here, because why would they not want to be here when things are going well? This is a great club. It is just continuing at the moment.”
Ross is eager to keep his squad together and has said that he would be happy if there were no incomings or outgoings in January.
Talks continue with Lynden Gooch and Denver Hume, while talks have also been held with talented forward Benji Kimpioka.
The Swedish youngster has impressed in Checkatrade Trophy outings this season.