Sunderland are the first side to show their hand in the hunt for Ipswich Town youngster Connor Wickham. Ipswich fansite TWTD reports that the Black Cats have opened the bidding for the England Under 21 international with an £8 million offer. The 18-year-old striker is a target for a host of other Premier League clubs, led by Liverpool and Tottenham, and a bidding war is possible. Sunderland's bid - the first official bid for the player this summer - would see the fee rise above £10 million depending on achievement and appearance clauses. Ipswich boss Paul Jewell hinted in March that Wickham would probably only leave Portman Road if he was moving to one of the bigger top-flight clubs. That would arguably give Liverpool and Tottenham the edge in the race for his signature, not least because Wickham was a boyhood Reds supporter. Wickham is under contract until 2014. Although the Tractor Boys are not intent on selling, it is thought the young forward has a clause in his contract allowing him to talk to club's who bid above a certain fee, understood to be in the £10 million to £15 million bracket.
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He looks promising but not proven, unless we get him, Dong, N'Gog and someone proven I would rather keep the cash to buy someone we can rely rather than gamble on - even £15m for Sturridge.
