Antonio Conte says Oscar's future will "be clear in the next days" as the Brazilian edges closer to leaving Chelsea for Shanghai SIPG in a £60 million deal.
On Monday a source close to Oscar told ESPN FC that the 25-year-old was weighing up an offer from the Chinese Super League club that would make him Chelsea's most lucrative ever sale, and the Brazil international then told Globo that the move is "90 percent" done.
Oscar did not feature in Chelsea's matchday squad at the Stadium of Light for Wednesday's clash with Sunderland and, after a 1-0 win that lifted his team six points clear at the top of the Premier League, Conte would not be drawn into a definitive statement on his midfielder's future.
When the subject of Oscar was raised in his postmatch media conference, Conte said: "It will be clear in the next days and... ," before laughing and adding, "I stop!
"I always counted on him because I think Oscar is a really good player. But sometimes there are situations it is difficult to face."
Chelsea dominated their struggling opponents at the Stadium of Light but were unable to add to Cesc Fabregas' precise finish in the 40th minute, and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was required to make impressive saves from Adnan Januzaj and Patrick van Aanholt in the second half as Sunderland chased an equaliser.
"After the first half I spoke with my players and told them 'try to kill the game,' because it's always very dangerous to keep the result 1-0," Conte told BBC Sport.
"At the end of the game Sunderland had a great chance [with Van Aanholt], and only a great save from Thibaut kept the result 1-0. He's a fantastic goalkeeper and when we needed him he replied in a good way. It's fantastic and I'm pleased for him.
"When you have the possibility to kill the game you must kill the game. We had this possibility but we didn't and at the end Courtois made a great save. It was good, it is important for the future because today we didn't pay. I hope in the future we can improve."
Sunderland manager David Moyes took little solace from a defeat that leaves his team rooted at the bottom of the Premier League, but said he could not fault the effort or performance of his players.
"Their efforts were terrific right up until the last minute," Moyes insisted. "We weren't so good in the first half but we kept at it and there was always a chance we could nick a goal. Their goalie has made two great saves. I suppose that's what he's there to do and that's why everyone thinks so highly of him.
"I don't really want a pat on the back for losing, because I need the points now. But it could have been our night to take a point. It wasn't to be. The players did everything they could against a really good team. We don't have the quality of Chelsea but we did a really good job."