SUNDERLAND boss Jack Ross admits there is growing uncertainty surrounding the future of Josh Maja after the length of time it has taken for the leading scorer to make progress in contract negotiations.

While American forward Lynden Gooch should put pen to paper on fresh terms in the next few days, Maja’s situation remains far from clear after he was given a deadline of this Friday to agree a new deal.

The 20-year-old, who only left his teenage years behind on Thursday, showed again his importance to this season’s promotion charge by hitting his 14th goal of a productive first half of the campaign in League One.

His performances have alerted a number of clubs at Premier League and Championship level, and has even led to claims that Manchester City and Tottenham are weighing up £6m moves for his services – even though he is out of contract in the summer.

Ross insists he does not know either way what Maja is thinking in terms of his future, but accepts the sheer fact they are now having to reveal a deadline highlights things have not gone as smoothly as they would have liked. Ross said: “From a player to manager relationship I would still believe he will stay.

"But as time goes on, and there’s no commitment, you have to have some doubt within it.  “I have said this to him, I will never take things personally. I get both perspectives on it, his and the club’s, and he knows it. When I say this is the best place for him at this club I hope he believes that.”

Regardless of what happens by the end of this week, Maja could well remain at Sunderland this season if there is a decision made not to sell him until the summer. The Black Cats would be due compensation as he is under the age of 24 and that he has been offered new terms.

But Sunderland would have to seriously listen to offers for him in that situation, so Ross can’t be clear on whether he will have Maja on board for the final five months of the campaign or not. Either way, though, he is determined to keep getting the best out of him.

Ross said: “I suppose the consequences of a deadline passing are out of my control. I won’t treat him differently. It’s maybe out of my hands even if I have a good relationship with him.

“It sounds as if I am absolving myself of any responsibility, but I am not. Naturally, I would say keep him here if I am asked but that might not be possible. I believe the deadline to be before the Charlton game on Saturday.”

Even if Ross has admitted he would like to keep former Fulham youngster Maja for the long term, the former St Mirren manager will not be losing any sleep over the situation. He is determined to ensure Sunderland keep focused on their Championship aims, and if that means replacing Maja so be it.  Ross said: “There’s this ongoing debate about other aspects of his game and I feel like exactly the same, I work with him every single day, but to score the goals he has done in his first full season is terrific. They are not easy to come by and his goals have been invaluable this season.  “Naturally I want to keep him within the squad. I am also sensible enough to get the bigger picture and I bought into that when I came in. Whatever happens in the next seven days I will deal with that."

The transfer window will officially open for business tomorrow on New Year’s Day and that should coincide with Gooch extending his stay at the Stadium of Light, having first travelled over to Wearside as a schoolboy and stayed part of the club ever since.

Ross said: “It’s nice to see the numbers of goals and assists he has provided, it’s an interesting one, this is his first full season of consistent games even though he has played in the Premier League.  “His contribution to the season so far has been very good. How he trains, works, it’s great for the squad to see him like that, he provides inspiration by setting the standards on those fronts.”

He added: “My understanding is that Lynden, subject to paperwork, everything has been agreed. Like everything, when it is signed and registered will be when to confirm, I’d be loathe to say definite just yet.”

The future of Maja could determine what other moves on the transfer front Sunderland will make in January, although Ross expects a new face soon in another department after shifting his focus from David Edgar, who he turned down after a trial this month.

Ross said: “All being well, that will happen and we will sign someone, there are just one or two things that need tidying up. My understanding is we should have a defensive player in by the early part of the month. Most likely to be a loan.”

Sunderland have lost a bit of consistency in recent weeks and have slipped seven points behind leaders Portsmouth in the promotion race. There is also a four point gap to second, although Ross’ side have two games in hand on both.

Saturday was the fifth time this season Sunderland have slipped up at home in League One, and that is one of the main reasons why they are not closer to Pompey at the top of the table. Maja’s equaliser a minute before half-time arrived 14 minutes after Luke Waterfall’s opener for Shrewsbury.   The outcome left a feeling of dissatisfaction among the home fans and players, just days after a record crowd of more than 46,000 witnessed Sunderland defeat Bradford on home turf.

Ross said: “Frustration for the second half and maybe the last ten minutes of the first half, prior to that it was more disappointment at the level of performance. It surprised me because the group were really bright after Wednesday.

“There maybe are reasons, the stadium had a different feel to Boxing Day, even though there was still a fantastic crowd in here but 13,000 less than Wednesday because it makes the atmosphere different. That’s not an excuse, we were slow, laboured, we dominated territory but they made it hard for us.”