Phillips: I would sell Black Cats’ Grigg and Wyke

KEVIN Phillips would be tempted to sell both Will Grigg and Charlie Wyke this summer, he has revealed.

The Sunderland legend has taken a closer look at Sunderland’s strikers and believes the Black Cats could do with fresh faces to add more goals to their forward line.

Both Grigg and Wyke have struggled for goals in their time at the Stadium of Light - something Phillips most certainly did not.

Manager Phil Parkinson recently backed Grigg to still be a success at the club, provided he moved to the region to commit more to it.

However, Phillips sees no way back for the ex-Wigan Athletic hitman.

He said: “Grigg’s time is probably up at the club. I didn’t live in Blackpool when I played for them, I lived in Birmingham and it did not affect me.

“Sometimes you can use that as an excuse.

“I thought Grigg was going to be a great signing for Sunderland but it just hasn’t worked out.

“I do not see it as the living arrangements because he would not have been travelling up every day because that is physically impossible.

“He is a grown man and he has been around a long time so I do not see that as being a major issue.

“Sometimes players find it very hard to settle at the club and that has been the issue for Will at Sunderland.”

Wyke, while not being a prolific scorer, still played a central role in Sunderland’s turnaround in the new year after returning from injury - his overall play supplementing those around him.

With fellow striker Kyle Lafferty leaving the club at the end of his contract this summer, selling both Wyke and Grigg would leave the Black Cats with no forwards.

Amid speculation of interest from Ipswich, Parkinson has already confirmed he will not entertain offers for the 27-year-old but Phillips says he would - provided they could use the money to replace him.

He added: “It would not be bad business if they sold Wyke and used the money to sign another striker.

“Charlie has done well in spells but they need an out-and-out goalscorer and he is not that. He gives them a different option.

“If there was a chance to free money up and bring in a different type of striker I would do that.”