21-year-old Connor Wickham will be sold unless he commits to a new contract, as it was admitted by Sunderland boss Gus Poyet.

There seemed to be a little chance for Wickham of renewing his deal at the Stadium of Light at the end of March, given that loan spells are to be taken in at Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United.

Wickham, nonetheless, recalled to Wearside to help in a survival bid and contributed five crucial goals as Sunderland maintain their status at the Premier League. In addition to this, he is now considered as an important figure for a lustrous potential was seen in him and enable him to complete an £8million move in 2011.

Poyet, on the other hand, does not want to take chances of losing a saleable asset on a free transfer since Wickham is only tied to his contract until next summer; thus, as a contingency, Poyet will give Wickham a new deal to sign in or he will be sold.

"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." he said in the Sunderland Echo.

"He is an asset to the football club and we paid a lot of money for him."

The manager said that Wickham played a pivotal role with the team last year and up until now; he stands to be a very significant player. However, he (Wickham) needs to realize that the club needs to look after the interest of the football club as well.

"I suppose that, one way or another, we are going to have an agreement."

Poyet said that what is bound to happen is uncertain as of now. But it is the job of the sporting department to know what the future will be for the players as well as for the club.

Despite the fact that there is no gray area in the options lain down for Wickham, Poyet is still in confidence that the situation will be resolved.