SUNDERLAND have stepped up attempts to strengthen Dick Advocaat’s attacking options after sanctioning Connor Wickham’s departure to Crystal Palace in a deal worth £9m.

The Black Cats have been working on ways to free up a sizeable chunk of the Wearside club’s wage budget and offloading Wickham will do just that.

Palace have moved for the 22-year-old, who only signed a new four-year contract at the Stadium of Light in December, after former Newcastle boss Alan Pardew identified him as a leading attacking target.

Pardew had expressed an interest during his days in charge at Newcastle United but has been able to follow that up after being backed to recruit English talent since taking over at Selhurst Park.

Now Palace have seen an offer of an initial £7m, rising to £9m if they stay up, accepted by Sunderland and the young forward is expected in south east London on Friday to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical.

The former Ipswich Town striker has struggled to make an impact on a consistent basis in the North-East since becoming Britain’s most expensive teenager when he moved from Ipswich four years ago.

He has scored just 15 goals in 91 appearances for Sunderland and has found opportunities in his preferred central striker role hard to come by.

But as well as frustrating fans with his work-rate and lack of consistency in a red and white shirt, Wickham will also be remembered for helping Sunderland to stay up when he scored five goals in three games towards the end of the 2013/14 season.

The England Under-21 international, who was left out of Gareth Southgate’s European Championships squad this summer after a dip in form last season, has missed the last two friendlies with a knock and returned to training earlier in the day.

After securing the services of Jeremain Lens, Younes Kaboul, Adam Matthews and Sebastian Coates, Sunderland have been looking to move players on before bringing more new signings in. Wickham could be followed out of the exit door by Will Buckley, who is interesting Leeds for£1.5m.

Sporting director Lee Congerton will now concentrate on bringing in more players to add to Advocaat’s squad. Schalke's Franco di Santo is known to have been high in Sunderland’s thinking before leaving Werder Bremen, while Fenerbahce’s Moussa Sow is a strong possibility.

Sow, 29, on the other hand has scored 51 goals in 102 appearances in the Turkish league and has regularly been touted around Premier League clubs over the last 18 months. Sunderland have been one of those clubs constantly linked, although West Ham are also keen on the £12m rated forward.

And in another twist, Sunderland are considering Championship hot-shot Jordan Rhodes. He is the subject of an offer worth £12m from Middlesbrough, but Sunderland could be willing to pay more initially and guarantee Premier League football.