LINCOLN City winger Anthony Scully could leave the club before the end of the transfer window as Sunderland are linked with a move.

The 23-year-old, who currently has one year left on his deal with the Imps, has been the subject of interest from a number of clubs at League One and Championship level.

Scully has made 113 appearances for the club and scored 36 goals since breaking through the academy. He’s already scored twice in the Imps opening five games of the season. “We want to hold onto our players. Anthony has had a great start to the season” manager Mark Kennedy told BBC Radio Lincolnshire Sport.

Regarding any potential interest, the manager tries not to get involved as he continued: “I am not aware of anything. I don’t get involved in any of that until I’ve got news, whether it’s a player coming in or somebody going out.

“I don’t waste my energy on useless information. Hand on my heart, I am not aware of anything that we’ve had a bid for our player. We don’t want to lose our best players.”

Sunderland are looking for attacking options between now and the end of the window with Alex Neil keen to add four or five signings in total before the deadline. While strikers Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms have both helped themselves to three goals each, the Black Cats are still looking to add firepower to the squad. However, following a recent injury to Dan Ballard defensive reinforcements may well have become a priority.

Fellow Championship sides Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield United and Blackpool have also been linked with a move for Scully along with a host of League One teams.

With the deadline for the window looming, Kennedy conceded that he would be open to losing Scully before September. He added: “Player trading is part of our model. It’s something we should be proud of. To bring players in, develop them and sell them on.

“The club are brilliant. They don’t sell the players and then stick the money in their back pockets. They invest it back into the club so as long as things like that are the right decision from the club.

“Nobody likes to lose their best players, but if it is in the best interest of the club. I spoke to Clive (Nates) during the week and he has got my full support on that.”