Sunderland have just two league games remaining this season – while the club’s recruitment team will already be looking ahead to the summer transfer window.
The Black Cats were tracking several players during the January transfer window and are bound to be linked with more names in the coming months. For fun, following recent speculation, we’ve put together a possible Sunderland starting XI and bench if the rumours turn out to be true:
13. Potential squad player: Liam Millar
Millar has impressed on loan at Preston this season, scoring five goals and providing five assists during a loan spell from Swiss side Basel. It was claimed in January that Sunderland had identified the 24-year-old as a potential replacement for Jack Clarke. The Black Cats have turned down multiple offers for Clarke over the last year and will face a big challenge to keep him this summer. Photo: George Wood
14. Potential squad player: Sam Tickle
Birmingham City are set to rival Sunderland over a deal for Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Sam Tickle. The England under-21 stopper has been dubbed as one of the best goalkeepers in the EFL by some publications and was heavily linked with a move to The Blues during last January's transfer window. Sunderland, though, are the latest club to be linked to Tickle as a potential replacement for Anthony Patterson should Mike Dodds' first choice leave the club this summer. Photo: Cameron Howard
15. Potential squad player: Musa Drammeh
Sunderland, Cardiff City and Birmingham City have been linked with a move for Sevilla forward Musa Drammeh on a free transfer. Football Insider have claimed that the trio of clubs are keen on the attacker after Sunderland were credited with an interest in Drammeh during the January transfer window. It was claimed that the Black Cats had sent scouts to watch the attacker at the beginning of the year and even saw an initial bid rejected. Drammeh is out of contract in the summer. Photo: Getty
16. Potential squad player: Matty Young
The highly-rated 17-year-old has worked wonders while out on loan at Darlington this season. He may well go out on loan again next season but as it stands, Young is set to return to Sunderland this summer and may be involved during pre-season again. Photo: Ben Cuthbertson