Realistic Sunderland chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus admits they may have no choice but to sell Ross Stewart in January.
The towering Scotland striker hasn't played since August with injury and isn't expected to return until after the World Cup. But his stock remains high after firing five goals in seven games to kick off the season and the club are keen to get him tied down to a new contract.
The former Ross County target man, who was subject to interest from Rangers and various English Premier League clubs in the summer, is out of contract at the end of the season and can open talks over a pre-contract move away from January. And Dreyfus admits they are no further along with talks to renew his deal, admitting they may have to sell him in January if no progress is made - even though they are desperate to keep him.
He said: "We are having ongoing conversations and we all hope he will stay at Sunderland. But we have to plan for all eventualities and make sure we know what we’re doing.
"Plan A is to keep him. We would only consider selling someone if we had confidence we could replace him with someone better.”
Stewart has scored 31 goals in 55 league starts for the Black Cats since his move from the Dingwall club last year.
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