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:
25. Potential squad player: Jobe Bellingham
Still only 18, Bellingham signed a long-term contract with the Black Cats last summer and has started constantly in the Championship this season. While there has been reported interest from Premier League clubs, it seems like Sunderland would be the best place for his development. Photo: George Wood
26. Potential squad player: Romaine Mundle
Sunderland signed Mundle for a seven-figure fee from Belgian side Standard Liege in January. The 20-year-old winger signed a four-and-a-half-year deal at the Stadium of Light and has made eight Championship appearances since the move. Photo: Frank Reid
27. Potential squad player: Patrick Roberts
Sunderland turned down a late bid from Southampton for the winger during last summer’s transfer window. The 27-year-old then signed a new deal with the Black Cats in November, which will run until the summer of 2026, with a club option of an extra year Photo: Ed Sykes
28. Potential squad player: Nazariy Rusyn
Sunderland had been tracking the Ukrainian striker for some time, before reaching an agreement with Zorya Luhansk to sign the 25-year-old last year. Rusyn agreed a four-year contract at the Stadium of Light, with a club option of a further year. Photo: Ben Roberts Photo