West Ham’s £4m bid for Connor Wickham has been rejected by Sunderland, according to Sky Sports.

The Hammers are on the hunt for a new striker, with Andy Carroll expected to be on the sidelines with an ankle injury until December.

Wickham, who joined the Black Cats from Ipswich Town for £8.1m in 2010, is entering the final 12 months of his contract at the Stadium of Light and Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet says the powerful forward will be sold if he does not agree a new deal.

Sunderland rejected the Hammers’ bid for the 21-year-old striker as they are intent on keeping the man who played a key part in their Premier League safety last season – notching five goals in a three-game spell at the end of last term.

The England Under-21 international now finds himself in favour with the Black Cats after spending the first half of last season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United.