West Ham Transfers: Irons Bid For Sunderland's Wickham

Just days after Gus Poyet backed Steven Fletcher and Connor Wickham to form the perfect partnership in the absence of a resolution for Liverpool striker Fabio Borini, West Ham have emerged as suitors for the English striker. The Black Cats might have to finally accept defeat in their hunt for Borini, but if Sam Allardyce is successful, Wickham won't be able to build on his late-season heroics that helped Sunderland beat the drop. It seems unlikely that Poyet would be happy to see Wickham leave without a replacement considering what he has said of the player's development:

€œConnor showed us last year what he can do. I think he€™s feeling better with Fletch next to him so it€™s an option. These games have given me information to make decisions about how we€™re going to play in the next few weeks."

Sunderland start their season with a trip to West Brom on Saturday, and Poyet will presumably want to have the questions over his forward line answered by then. West Ham meanwhile have had to enter the market for a striker again despite brining in Mauro Zarate and Enner Valencia after Andy Carroll pulled with yet another injury in pre-season. And with Sunderland's own options limited, there's every chance that the Black Cats would hold out to make a profit on the £8m they paid Ipswich for Wickham. Should West Ham be looking at Wickham to replace Andy Carroll? Should Sunderland allow him t leave? Share your thoughts below in the comments thread.