Sunderland’s preparations for the 2024/25 Championship season got underway last week when they confirmed their retained list.
Corry Evans was the headline name on a list of players released by the Black Cats as he joined former Blackburn Rovers star Bradley Dack and academy graduates Ellis Taylor and Jack Diamond in seeing their time at the Stadium of Light come to an end.
There was also confirmation loan duo Mason Burstow and Callum Styles had returned to respective parent clubs Chelsea and Barnsley - although the Black Cats retain an option to sign the latter on a permanent basis.
Academy players Ben Creamer, Callum Wilson, Connor Pye, Daniel Obolo, Harry Gardiner, Jayden Sekete, Joe Ryder, Kailem Beattie, Michael Spellman and Thomas Chiabi will were also released.
The same lists have been released by clubs across the Championship as thoughts turn towards the new campaign - and there are a whole host of big names looking for new clubs during the summer.
There was also confirmation loan duo Mason Burstow and Callum Styles had returned to respective parent clubs Chelsea and Barnsley - although the Black Cats retain an option to sign the latter on a permanent basis.