Striker Charlie Wyke is said to be considering “alternative offers” amid links to Nottingham Forest.
Sunderland reportedly remain in talks with the 28-year-old over extending his stay, as his contract comes to an end.
But his future is still up in the air as a number of teams chase his signature.
According to The Northern Echo, the Black Cats are continuing to hold discussions with four players who have been offered new deals, ahead of their current ones expiring this month - with Wyke being one.
However, it is said the forward and his three teammates “have received alternative offers” from other clubs and it “remains unclear” whether they will put pen to paper on fresh terms at the Stadium of Light.
Along with the Reds, Championship rivals Cardiff City, Middlesbrough and Millwall are reportedly keen on Wyke, as well as Scottish giants Celtic, Russian outfit CSKA Moscow and Ipswich Town.
Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman recently said he was hoping for a swift resolution over the situation of all out-of-contract players.
"We've been in discussions with those guys and their representatives,” he told the official website.
“It's always going to be a difficult period because they are players that have done well for us, hence we want to re-engage them.
“But obviously because they've done well for Sunderland, there's other people going, 'these guys have done well for Sunderland, and we would also be interested in them'.
"It's going to be a piece of work which we want to try and reduce the timeline as quick as possible and therefore it helps us on our platform for where we're going and who we might be looking at in the future months.
"We feel they can all contribute to the Sunderland of the future, and therefore hopefully we'll be able to get them over the line.”
Wyke finished as his team’s top scorer during the campaign just gone, netting 31 goals in all competitions as Sunderland’s promotion dreams were shattered in the League One play-off semi-finals.
According to BristolLive, Bristol City are not one of the teams pursuing the forward, despite previous reports.
.png?w=600)
