Will Sunderland look to sell star players in January? Chief executive Martin Bain responds

Sunderland have two big assets in highly-rated homegrown goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and Ivory Coast international defender Lamine Kone, who is wanted by West Ham United.

Both have a number of clubs monitoring them with the January transfer window just a few weeks away.

Bain sat down with the media this week to discuss a range of topics including whether the Black Cats could look to cash in on some of their prize assets?

Bain admits the January transfer window can be unpredictable but insists the club does not want to lose its best players.

"I don’t sit here and have a desire to sell assets, the ones that would attract interest," said the club's chief executive.

"The reason I don’t is because David is trying to build a team here.

"Ultimately, I am not naive and know that things happen, things don’t work out quite as you have said.

"Am I promoting the sale of one or two of those assets? No, I am not.

"If they were sold, would it make a difference to the Premier League aspect or what we have to play with, that is where I would sit down with the manager at that point.

"The material difference of losing in terms of gaining and being able to do whatever.

"Ultimately, with January transfer windows sometimes you are not sure what you are getting. There is more of a risk factor.

"Do I want to sell players? No," added Bain, who admitted it was "difficult" for Moyes and his team who "work around the clock and are looking at players from all over."