Phil Parkinson's first thoughts on the summer transfer window and Sunderland's plans

Phil Parkinson believes that a patient approach to summer recruitment could lead to Sunderland landing a better calibre of player.
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Sunderland saw their League One campaign brought to a conclusion on Tuesday after an ‘overwhelming majority’ of third-tier clubs voted for a curtailment.

It leaves the Black Cats facing a third season in League One for the first time in their history and having recorded their lowest ever league finish.

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Parkinson’s first priority is addressing the 11 players who will see their Sunderland deals expire at the end of this month.

Sunderland boss Phil ParkinsonSunderland boss Phil Parkinson
Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson

The Black Cats will have to submit a retained list by June 23rd, after which date other clubs will be free to approach any player who has not agreed a new deal.

Attentions will also turn to the significant number of players who will be leaving other clubs in the coming weeks and months.

Parkinson says Sunderland will be tracking those players, but also believes that it may be prudent to follow who could be available upon the conclusion of the Premier League and Championship season towards the end of July.

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Parkinson met with CEO Jim Rodwell earlier this week to step up planning, with both clear that information on when next season will start, and whether fans will be allowed into ground, is key in settling budgets and beginning to execute decisions.

“The first thing we have to address is our own out-of-contract players,” Parkinson said.

“Then in terms of new players the market will be difficult to read, but we have to make sure that we don’t play our hand too early and then find that a month down the line we could have brought in better quality players for the money we had available.

“In any summer there’s a game of poker to be played, but this year even more so.

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“I do feel that there will be players that will fall within our wage structure, when 12 months ago we wouldn’t have been able to get them.

“Everyone is in the same situation, but we have to try and make it work in our favour as far as recruitment is concerned.

“There’s a lot of careful thinking to be done and strategy to be worked out over the summer, but we have to use our budget wisely and make sure we get in the best quality players we can.

“That might mean we have to be patient and let the market work itself out for a few weeks.

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“We need to have one eye on the players who are out there now, but also be looking ahead because there is likely to be a surplus of players from the Premier League and Championship that will cascade down.”

Sunderland currently have thirteen senior players under contract for next season, though that figure includes Aiden McGeady.

McGeady is currently on loan at Charlton Athletic having been told he had no future at the club under Parkinson’s management.