Lee Johnson has admitted that he doesn’t expect Charlie Wyke to sign a new contract with Sunderland.

An extension has been on the table for Wyke since the end of last season after the 28-year-old’s 30 goal haul with the Black Cats.

There has been reported interest from Celtic to secure Wyke’s services with other potential suitors coming from the Championship.

Sunderland are still awaiting a response from Wyke but the Black Cats boss admits he’s resigned to losing his star striker ahead of next season.

“Charlie, I would say the door is ajar, but we're certainly not expecting him to come back" says Johnson. 

“I'd say that it would be him coming back to us and saying he wants to talk again, effectively.

“My gut says that he will move on, I'd say 95% that he'll move on.

“But we would leave the door ajar because at the moment, you never know.

“There's a lot of people talking in the Championship but who aren't in a great place in terms of being able to commit to players financially.

“They seem to have been hit the hardest and in some cases, it's the League One clubs who seem to be the largest spenders.”

While the Sunderland boss is anticipating a near future without his star man, he remains hopeful of Denver Hume and Luke O’Nien accepting their offers.

“Denver is ongoing, that one I haven't been too involved in to be honest.

“With Luke, I must have spoken to him every other day for the last three or four weeks.

“I'm hopeful on that one, but it's not quite there yet. It's good signs.”

This will represent a blow for Sunderland who still remain hopeful Wyke returning but realise time isn't on their side having played their first pre season friendly against Spennymoor this afternoon. 

The season begins in just over a month when they host Wigan Athletic at the Stadium of Light.