The club remain hopeful that Luke O’Nien, Charlie Wyke, Denver Hume and Aiden McGeady will commit their futures to their club as they weigh up contract offers, but in the case of the first two in particular there are clear concerns that a club from a higher tier could win the race.
The future of that quartet is clearly going to go some way to defining what incoming business the club does, with all potentially key players in Lee Johnson’s plans for next season.
Either way, there is clearly going to be a significant rebuild of the squad.
Sunderland want to bring down the average age, promote developing talent from the academy and pivot towards a more data-led approach to recruitment.
The work ahead for the new executive team is considerable.
The departure of a number of senior players at the end of their contracts has left a number of gaps in the squad, and it seems certain that there will be at least two more departures before a fourth attempt at winning promotion from League One begins in earnest.
So where are the key priorities to be addressed, and what clues can we draw from what Johnson’s side could look like from the players who still remain?
We’ve run through the strongest XI, and squad, that the head coach has at his disposal right now as the first pre-season fixture at Spennymoor Town nears.
1. THE LIKELY SYSTEM
Johnson has shown a willingness to be flexible with the shape of his team and that is set to continue. More important than the formation is the style, which will be centred around an aggressive high press. However, the head coach hinted after a 1-1 draw with Hull City towards the end of last season that he intents to play in a variation of 4-3-3 whenever possible.
He said: “I think that’s always the preferred shape. I haven’t always been able to play that, but it’s what we’ll recruit to – a six, an eight and a ten.
“Sometimes, you play with two eights or two sixes and a ten, to whatever. But that version of 4-3-3 is what we’re well suited to.
“For whatever reason, sometimes this season we haven’t been able to do that. Mainly, it’s because we have five centre-halves out injured.”
As such, our strongest XI is tailored to a 4-3-3 shape... Photo: FRANK REID 2020
2. GK - LEE BURGE
Remi Matthews' departure leaves Burge as the clear candidate to lead the goalkeeping group next season as it stands. Whether that remains the case come the start of the season remains to be seen.
Burge responded strongly to being dropped in the relatively early stages of Johnson's tenure but the Black Cats are likely to add at least one senior stopper to their ranks this summer, with Chelsea youngster Nathan Baxter strongly linked with a loan move.
Burge has a year left on his deal but seems certain to face some competition for his place. Photo: FRANK REID 2020
3. RB - KENTON RICHARDSON
Richardson joined, similar to Josh Hawkes, with a view that his National League experience would boost the U23 outfit while giving him a realistic prospect of pushing for senior minutes over the course of a two-year deal.
That Hawkes has managed that while Richardson has struggled is a reflection not of ability but of rotten luck with injury, which left the full back sidelined for months across the early stages of the campaign.
He is fit now, and that could mean minutes in the early weeks of pre-season.
Even if Luke O'Nien agrees a new deal, his future may yet lie in midfield and as such, it looks right now like a position where Sunderland need to recruit two new players. Photo: Mark Fletcher
4. CB - BAILEY WRIGHT
The experienced defender's form dipped towards the end of the campaign, but that has to be put into context when you consider he was forced to come straight into a hectic schedule from a relatively serious injury.
He has played his best football for Sunderland in the middle of a back three, where his physicality and leadership skills are complemented by more pace either side.
Johnson, though, rates his experience hugely and will hope that a full pre-season leaves him ready to be a big part of the promotion push. Photo: FRANK REID 2020