New Sunderland deal for Wickham

Striker Connor Wickham has signed a new four-year deal with Sunderland.

The England Under-21 international, whose five goals in three games in April played a major part in keeping the Black Cats in the Barclays Premier League, was due to be out of contract in the summer.

Had new terms not been agreed he would have been able to sign a pre-contract overseas in January, while closer to home the likes of West Ham and Crystal Palace have reportedly shown interest.

Wickham, who signed from Ipswich for £8.1m in 2011, has found the net three times in the current campaign, twice in the league.