JACK ROSS is hoping to persuade Joel Asoro and Josh Maja to remain at Sunderland, but admits the club might be forced to sell the duo if they continue to refuse to sign a new deal.

Both Asoro and Maja have entered the final 12 months of their contract at the Stadium of Light, with talks over a new deal having broken down in the second half of last season.

Stewart Donald is yet to hold new discussions with the pair’s representatives, but in a recent interview, the Black Cats owner admitted Asoro’s agent had claimed the 19-year-old did not want to sign a new contract because of “something that had happened at the club”.

Asoro and Maja both travelled to Portugal yesterday for a pre-season training camp, and Ross has been impressed with the pair’s attitude since returning to training on Wednesday.

He has told the attacking duo they could be important members of his squad next season, and stressed that their prospects of playing regular first-team football could be enhanced by remaining at Sunderland rather than moving to a club at a higher level.

However, if neither is willing to commit their long-term future to Wearside, there is an acceptance that it will be all-but-impossible for Sunderland to keep them next term.

“Any discussion has probably been a little on the back-burner because those involved in that side of things have been focused on players potentially leaving and coming in,” said Ross. “But with both young men, I’ve spoken to them and enjoyed starting to work with them.

“I think they’re at stages of their career where they have to (think about) what might be best for them in the short term. Is it best to play regularly and have a good, positive season, or is it best to move on to a higher level and maybe not play first-team football? I can’t answer that, only they can.

“They certainly don’t seem unhappy to be here. We have to foster that, but then of course the contractual situation changes if a player doesn’t want to sign. They’re of a certain age, so then the club has a decision to make.”

Sunderland have completed four signings so far this summer, and a fifth new arrival could be confirmed in the next 24 hours with Scottish midfielder Dylan McGeouch set to undergo a medical and finalise personal terms.

McGeouch is a free agent after turning down the offer of a new deal with Hibernian, and has also rejected approaches from Rangers and Aberdeen to pursue a move to the Stadium of Light.

The 25-year-old indicated a desire to join the Black Cats at the end of last week, and Sunderland officials will attempt to tie up the move as quickly as possible in order to enable McGeouch to join up with his new team-mates in Portugal.

The former Celtic trainee joined Hibernian in 2015, and made his full Scotland debut at the end of May in a friendly with Peru.

Ross’ overhaul of his squad is well underway, with a number of departures now anticipated in the next couple of weeks.

Wahbi Khazri and Bryan Oviedo should complete their exits now that their World Cup duties have come to an end, while Lamine Kone, Papy Djilobodji and Lee Cattermole are also available for sale.

Ross will also use the next few days to run the rule over a number of Sunderland’s younger players in order to make an assessment about whether they are ready for first-team action on Wearside next season, or whether they would benefit from a loan move to a lower level.

Max Stryjek, Andrew Nelson, Denver Hume, Elliott Embleton, Bali Mumba and Ethan Robson have all travelled to Portugal, and Luke Molyneux would also have been included in the squad had he not picked up a minor knock.

“I’m a big advocate of players going on loan,” said Ross. “Every job I’ve had, I’m a big believer in players playing football, and it’s surprised me that some of the young players here, at the age they’re at, haven’t really played competitive football. They’ve probably gone too long without doing that.

“The lads that have travelled (to Portugal), there’ll be a couple that are probably going to be in and around things (next season). But there’ll also be a couple that need to go out on loan.

“They’ll enjoy that, and it will stand them in good stead, not just for their career here, but for their career in general. I can assess them better when I can see them with my own eye and get a feel for where they’re at, and also what level might suit them in terms of a loan move.”