SUNDERLAND'S Sporting Director Kritsjaan Speakman has spoken publicly about the latest status of contract talks with full-back Denver Hume.

The 22-year-old has been a free agent over the summer after his contract expired by at the end of June. There has been an offer on the table for Hume but he's yet to put pen-to-paper. 

Whilst there has been offers from other clubs, Hume has been in training with club over the course of pre-season as he mulls his options. 

Sunderland's League One campaign is drawing ever closer with their season opening game this weekend against Wigan Athletic and they are without an experienced full-back in the squad.

Speakman told the Sunderland Echo in an exclusive interview: “Denver’s contract didn’t have an option in it so it comes to an end and there’s a free agent.

“So Denver then assesses the contract offer he’s had, takes some time to think and then makes a decision.

“He’s got to be comfortable with where it’s at, and that he feels comfortable that this is the right place for him to develop the next little phase of his career.

“The injury has been a difficult one because it’s created a discussion around when he’s going to back fit and that of course affects the offer.

“We feel we’ve made a really, really good offer.

“But there are a number of players out there still considering contract offers, and it’s just unfortunate for Denver that he’s a Sunderland player and therefore it’s, why hasn’t he re-signed?

“We feel we have to support Denver and give him the space to assess where he’s at."

Speakman added: “There’s several factors within the context of Denver’s situation and we have to give him the room to decide where he’s best suited.

“He’s not going to start the season and therefore, there hasn’t been that huge time pressure on it.

“We have to be respectful that all of these players who are out of contract, especially in this new climate, they’ve got to make the best decision.

“Denver is in every day doing his work, he’s a smashing young professional and a cracking kid.

“We have no issue with where it’s at, at the minute.

“We are relaxed, but of course at some point you need the decision. We have to provide the fairest amount of time to make a decision, and we have a duty of care to Denver because he’s one of our homegrown players.

“We don’t like to go down the route of hard deadlines but I think that naturally, when the season starts, we need to know who is in the squad.

“Those conversations with Denver are ongoing.”