Now the summer transfer window has closed there is more attention on players who are nearing the end of their contracts.
Sunderland have a handful of first-team members who have entered the final year of their current deals, while their Championship rivals will also be weighing up contract negotiations.
As of January, players with less than a year left on their deals are free to sign a pre-contractual agreement with any overseas club.
Here are 21 Championship players who are into the final year of their contracts.
As of January, players with less than a year left on their deals are free to sign a pre-contractual agreement with any overseas club.
![Gibson signed permanently for Norwich in 2021 following an initial loan spell at the club. The 30-year-old centre-back has made 99 appearances for The Canaries but is nearing the end of a three-year contract.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjhlYzNkYjdhLWE0ZTEtNGMxMi04N2YzLTU1ZDdmNGMwNTI2ODpkOGE4YzhjYS01OGMzLTRhMzAtYTk1ZC01NDhlMzYzMWRhZmE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. Ben Gibson (Norwich)
Gibson signed permanently for Norwich in 2021 following an initial loan spell at the club. The 30-year-old centre-back has made 99 appearances for The Canaries but is nearing the end of a three-year contract. Photo: Cameron Howard
![Following a loan spell at Middlesbrough last season, Mowatt, 28, has returned to West Brom and managed to win his place back in The Baggies’ team.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjY3ZjNhZTg5LTk3YjAtNGFmZC05YjE2LWZlMjRhYmMxY2E4MDozZTM3NDk2OS1hMDZkLTQ3MGUtYTRjMC1hMjI0MmY2NmYxYTU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
6. Alex Mowatt (West Brom)
Following a loan spell at Middlesbrough last season, Mowatt, 28, has returned to West Brom and managed to win his place back in The Baggies’ team. Photo: Marc Atkins
![Leicester boss Enzo Maresca has rotated Iheanacho, 27, and Jamie Vardy this season, with the former on five Championship goals this term,](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjI2MjRkMGY1LWVmOGItNDJkYS05ZDE4LWI5NjY4ZTU4Zjg2Yjo5ZTFiZWViMS1jMjdiLTRmODItOGJlNi03MWI0NmRkOGMzN2I=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
7. Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester)
Leicester boss Enzo Maresca has rotated Iheanacho, 27, and Jamie Vardy this season, with the former on five Championship goals this term, Photo: Jan Kruger
![After joining Middlesbrough from Sunderland in 2018, the 28-year-old is into his sixth season at the Riverside. McNair has started the side's last eight games at centre-back.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmFkZmFjMzliLTYzOWItNDA4My1hMjQwLTEwYWNhMDBjOTMyZDpiZjUxZDg0Yy0xYTY4LTQxOWUtYWMzYS1kMWZhYjYxOGYzY2Y=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
8. Paddy McNair (Middlesbrough)
After joining Middlesbrough from Sunderland in 2018, the 28-year-old is into his sixth season at the Riverside. McNair has started the side's last eight games at centre-back. Photo: Stu Forster