Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce has revealed he tried to complete a transfer move for Crystal Palace striker Connor Wickham while in charge of West Ham.

Wickham, 22, was strongly linked with a move to Upton Park last summer after a productive period for Sunderland in which the forward scored 15 goals in 34 appearances.

And Allardyce, who was recently appointed boss of the Black Cats, has admitted that he wanted to sign the former England U21 star in his new autobiography, ‘Big Sam’.

“I don’t mind admitting I wanted Connor Wickham from Sunderland,” the former Hammers’ boss, 61, was quoted as saying by the Sunderland Echo.

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“He was underperforming for them, but I felt we would play to his strengths and he would get us goals and assists the way Kevin Davies did for Bolton.

“Sunderland wouldn’t play ball, though, despite us being encouraged to go for it by his agent who was sure they would let him leave for £8m – it turned out that wasn’t the case.”

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Wickham, a former England U21 representative, has failed to feature in any of the Eagles’ matches this season after starting three of the first four Premier League games.

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