Sunderland’s preparations for the 2024/25 campaign are officially underway.
The players reported back for pre-season testing on Friday and began their training programme today, which was also Régis Le Bris’ first day officially in charge of the Black Cats. Sunderland will now have a solid two-week training block before the squad splits for friendlies against Gateshead and South Shields, with the pre-season tour of Spain to follow. Here, we run through the state of play with every player currently in Le Bris’ senior squad and make a summer transfer window prediction for each and every one...
17. Dan Neil
One to watch over the coming weeks. His last campaign came to a premature end due to injury but Sunderland have always been hopeful that he'll be fit to start the new season. Has a lot of strong top-tier interest and has rejected the initial offer of a new deal. With two years to run Sunderland are protected for now, but are vulnerable to a degree if Neil's stance remains the same moving forward. Sunderland hope the appointment of a new head coach means talks can progress and there's no doubting Neil's ambition to take his boyhood club back to the Premier League. It's up to Sunderland to convince him they have a good chance of doing that over the next couple of years. Still more likely to stay than go. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
18. Pierre Ekwah
The midfielder is expected to be an important part of the squad next season, though it seems highly likely that Sunderland will look to add some Championship experience to their midfield options following Corry Evans' departure. Had an up-and-down season last time out but easy to forget it was his first full campaign as a senior footballer. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
19. Chris Rigg
Nothing is signed and so the situation could change, but it's thought that Rigg is now close to putting pen to paper on his first pro deal at the club. If that happens then he'll start the season as a genuine contender for a place in the starting XI week in, week out. One of the interesting themes of pre-season will be whether that is still out on the right win where he finished the last campaign or whether the club now believe he's ready to move into the middle of the park where he'll clearly play in the long run. | Frank Reid Photo: Frank Reid
20. Jay Matete
Start of a big pre-season for the midfielder, whose loan at Oxford was brought to a premature end by injury. Has the potential to be a contender for those midfield roles but needs regular football and so has to be a contender for an exit later in the window. A loan is more likely to allow him to rebuild his match sharpness but a permanent move could be possible depending on the extent to which Sunderland recruit in this position. The Black Cats will want to give him a chance in the coming weeks, though. | Frank Reid Photo: Frank Reid