Sunderland’s search for a new head coach continues, with supporters facing an increasingly long wait to discover who’ll be tasked with bringing the team back into the top half of the table and beyond next season.
But planning for that campaign is already well under way, with the club’s way of operating meaning that the recruitment wheels are already starting to turn. Already, they’ve been linked with a significant number of big deals, both incomings and outgoings. So what’s the latest and how likely is it that any of them will actually happen? Here, we take you through..
![Hume is unsurprisingly attracting admiring glances after an excellent campaign for both club and country. One of a few in the squad where you can’t rule out an exit because a huge bid from a top-tier club could change things quickly, but as it stands he’s got a long time left to run on his contract and would surely be best served by another season of regular Championship football. And Sunderland really would be loathed to lose him given he’s a key part of the plans for next season.
How likely? Can’t be ruled out, but not very at this point.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmE2MGMyOWM1LTIzOGEtNDI4ZS04MDVmLWY5NzI2MjUzNzgwYzo2YTc3OTU3NS0xOTVmLTRlZGQtYWI4MC0yNmMyMmE5ZjU4NjQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
5. TRAI HUME - OUT (NAPOLI/ASTON VILLA, LEEDS)
Hume is unsurprisingly attracting admiring glances after an excellent campaign for both club and country. One of a few in the squad where you can’t rule out an exit because a huge bid from a top-tier club could change things quickly, but as it stands he’s got a long time left to run on his contract and would surely be best served by another season of regular Championship football. And Sunderland really would be loathed to lose him given he’s a key part of the plans for next season. How likely? Can’t be ruled out, but not very at this point. | Frank Reid Photo: Frank Reid
![Loosely linked with a move to newly-promoted Ipswich Town, though their clear current priority right now will be the potential departure of Kieran McKenna amid interest from Chelsea and Brighton. Ballard is one of those in the squad who is destined for the Premier League with or without Sunderland, but who you feel would benefit from another season at Championship level. Sunderland would be reluctant to lose him at this stage, it would leave a huge void in the team with his potential long-term successors in the squad not yet ready to permanently step up. And like Jack Clarke this time last year when they rejected modest bids from Burnley, they’ll feel another good campaign will see his value rocket if Sunderland don’t win promotion themselves.
How likely? In this window, would be a big surprise.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjU1NGQxNTU0LTA2NmMtNGQ0NS1iMzFhLWNlMzAwZWNkZjA1ZjowOWE4Zjg0ZC05ZmQwLTQ1NTYtOTBjMy01MWQ1NWJhZGZiODY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
6. DAN BALLARD - OUT (IPSWICH TOWN)
Loosely linked with a move to newly-promoted Ipswich Town, though their clear current priority right now will be the potential departure of Kieran McKenna amid interest from Chelsea and Brighton. Ballard is one of those in the squad who is destined for the Premier League with or without Sunderland, but who you feel would benefit from another season at Championship level. Sunderland would be reluctant to lose him at this stage, it would leave a huge void in the team with his potential long-term successors in the squad not yet ready to permanently step up. And like Jack Clarke this time last year when they rejected modest bids from Burnley, they’ll feel another good campaign will see his value rocket if Sunderland don’t win promotion themselves. How likely? In this window, would be a big surprise. | Frank Reid Photo: Frank Reid
![Sunderland had admired Styles over a period of time before making their move in January, a deal that was nearly derailed by injury. Styles was unable to make much of an impact in very difficult circumstances, often played out of position and in a struggling team. Sunderland have the option to make that loan a permanent transfer and while they seem unlikely to do that right now, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that the new head coach could have an input if they felt Style would work in their team.
How likely? It would be a surprise if Styles signed but Sunderland have left the option open now for a reason.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/03/15/20/Wfc%20Safc%20Styles%2010.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
7. CALLUM STYLES - IN (BARNSLEY)
Sunderland had admired Styles over a period of time before making their move in January, a deal that was nearly derailed by injury. Styles was unable to make much of an impact in very difficult circumstances, often played out of position and in a struggling team. Sunderland have the option to make that loan a permanent transfer and while they seem unlikely to do that right now, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that the new head coach could have an input if they felt Style would work in their team. How likely? It would be a surprise if Styles signed but Sunderland have left the option open now for a reason. | Frank Reid Photo: Frank Reid
![Rigg is currently away with England U17s at the European Championships, so no significant updates on his Sunderland future are likely for a while yet. He is eligible to turn 17 later next month, meaning that he can choose then to sign his first professional contract at Sunderland. The club remain hopeful that we will choose to do so, with the broad strokes of an agreement put in place when he signed his scholarship last summer. Since then, he has become an established member of the senior squad and finished the campaign as a regular in Mike Dodds’ side.
How likely? One to be cautiously optimistic on, but there are some significant caveats as we will come to next…](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjg5ZjIxOWI3LTRmMzctNDJiYy04YTE5LWZiYTg3MTk4NDc3NDpiNjZjNjNmNi1lZTIzLTRhNDYtYjRhYS00NmUzYmYzYzBmYmU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
8. CHRIS RIGG - PRO DEAL
Rigg is currently away with England U17s at the European Championships, so no significant updates on his Sunderland future are likely for a while yet. He is eligible to turn 17 later next month, meaning that he can choose then to sign his first professional contract at Sunderland. The club remain hopeful that we will choose to do so, with the broad strokes of an agreement put in place when he signed his scholarship last summer. Since then, he has become an established member of the senior squad and finished the campaign as a regular in Mike Dodds’ side. How likely? One to be cautiously optimistic on, but there are some significant caveats as we will come to next… | Frank Reid Photo: Frank Reid