Josh Maja could be sold this month - Sunderland boss

Maja is set to return to Sunderland’s starting line-up at Scunthorpe United on Saturday, having recovered from the illness that kept him out of last weekend’s draw with Luton Town, but the striker’s long-term future remains extremely uncertain.

The 20-year-old has rejected Sunderland’s offer of a new contract at the Stadium of Light, meaning he can leave as a free agent in the summer and is free to speak to interested overseas parties this month.

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Celtic have a strong interest in acquiring his services, and his representatives are understood to have had discussions with a number of clubs in the German Bundesliga, but while it would make financial sense of Sunderland to sell now, Ross is extremely reluctant to lose the services of his leading scorer.

One compromise could be for Maja to be sold on the proviso that he is loaned back to the Black Cats for the remainder of the campaign, with Ross having benefited from a similar arrangement 12 months ago.

“It’s a potential option, and a potential solution if you like,” said the Sunderland boss. “If he did go, then we’d have to find a replacement at a time when we’re already trying to strengthen in that area.

“I’ve had a similar situation not that long ago with a young player called Lewis Morgan who signed for Celtic in January, but was loaned straight back to St Mirren. That was the perfect scenario for me at that juncture.

“Because of Josh’s age, and perhaps how any purchasing club would view him, that could be an option for us. But that’s all it is at the moment. It’s nothing that been discussed as more than a potential scenario because there’s been no concrete interest or discussion from other clubs.”

Regardless of what happens with Maja, Sunderland are keen to recruit another forward this month. Wigan Athletic have rejected two offers for Will Grigg, but the Black Cats’ interest in the Northern Ireland international is not yet at an end.

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A further approach to the Latics is anticipated shortly, with Ross adamant that the pursuit of Grigg is not linked to Maja. Indeed, if Maja leaves this month and does not return on loan, the Sunderland boss will be urging Sunderland’s owner, Stewart Donald, to sanction two new arrivals.

“If Josh remains at the club, then we want to bring one in,” he said. “If Josh goes, then obviously that becomes two because we need to have enough attacking options. And by attacking options, I probably mean natural, out-and-out strikers.

“We’ve really played the whole season with Josh and Charlie (Wyke), coming back fit, as our only natural strikers. You could make an argument for a lot of the others being half wide players or half number tens. That remains a priority for us.”