Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor has been at the centre of mounting transfer speculation in recent weeks.

Former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips has suggested that there is a chance the Black Cats could part company with current centre-forward Wilson Isidor at the end of the season.

The Frenchman enjoyed a hugely promising start to the campaign, scoring four goals in his first nine Premier League outings, but hasn’t found the back of the net since late October, and has been the subject of mounting transfer speculation in recent times having fallen down the pecking order at the Stadium of Light.

During the January window, the likes of Everton and Turkish giants Besiktas were touted as admirers, while a fresh update from online outlet Football Insider earlier this week claimed that the player could look to push through an exit if his game time doesn’t improve in the near future.

To that end, Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris admitted in a recent press conference that he has held talks with Isidor over his role on Wearside, explaining: “For Wilson, I've had many conversations with him and his agent recently. He's a really good player, important for us, did really well in the past and for sure in the future as well.

“We still have momentum and I think for Sunderland at the minute it's really positive to have Brian in good form. And two strikers, Eli [Mayenda] and Wilson, ready to go. It's normal to have some difficult periods because they are still young, new in the league. So I don't know if it's possible to sustain the level for a whole season in this league. So it's just normal to have different periods.”

He added: “Yes, sure [he is frustrated at the moment], which I think is acceptable, it's not new in professional life. I think you have to accept good and bad periods, I think if we compare with last season, he had more or less this dynamic, he started well, then struggled a bit, and then went back at the end of the season, so he's learning, we are here to support him, to challenge him, so now the connection is really good, really positive, really open, so I can explain what I expect from him, he can give me feedback about the set-up, what he finds difficult to get better, so I think this connection is really positive, even if he struggles a bit at the minute.”

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What has Kevin Phillips said about Wilson Isidor’s Sunderland future?

And now, Phillips has weighed in on the 25-year-old’s current situation, claiming that a departure could be on the cards if nothing changes between now and the end of the season.

Speaking exclusively to The Echo, courtesy of BestBettingSites, he said: “It’s a tough one. Wilson started his career well at Sunderland, scored goals and then went on a barren spell. Now in the Premier League, he’s found it difficult to get a run in the team and score goals.

“[Brian] Brobbey came in and cemented his place in the team, and rightly so, because he’s been excellent. So, from Wilson’s point of view, he has to keep fighting and scrapping to try to get back on that side. And if he feels that he’s not going to get the opportunity or get game time, then as any professional would like to do, is go and play football.

“I think if Sunderland had the opportunity for him to go and play somewhere and were able to bring someone in in the summer, then I think they might look at that. But at the minute, he’s competing. When he comes on, he gives it everything. So only time will tell. Yes, there’s speculation he could have gone in the January window. I think someone enquired about him, but I think it was the right thing to do for Sunderland, keeping hold of him. And they’ll reassess it again in the summer.”

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