The contract dilemma that will soon loom for Sunderland as takeover uncertainty continues

So it was with Jordan Willis, a header deemed 'outstanding' by Phil Parkinson, the 26-year-old rising to clear a set piece that looked destined to be turned into a goal by Ben Watson.

Minutes previous, the eery quiet of The Valley behind closed doors had been punctured by an emphatic cry of 'Jordan's!'.

Willis rose again with another emphatic clearance, buying his side another valuable moment or two as, a man down, they secured yet another clean sheet.

There is a danger that we can take the consistency of his performances for granted.

For so long now he has been doing this on a weekly basis that it no longer feels remarkable.

The former Coventry City defender stands out as an example of exactly how Sunderland should operate in the market at this level, and the kind of signing they have arguably not made enough.

A free agent, but also an investment, given the competition from Championship clubs. Athletic, composed, experienced, a dedicated professional. One with room to grow and a significant resale value.

It's a timely moment to reflect on that, given that we are entering a familiar scenario in which an important Sunderland player is entering the final year of his contract.

Perhaps it will be seen as negative, searching for an issue when the start to the season is positive generally, to raise it.

Perhaps too, it seems as if it's an issue of limited importance.

After all, there is a takeover to settle, an Academy Manager to appoint, a Head of Recruitment to appoint, a Chair of the Board to appoint (Three weeks since this column looked at those ongoing vacancies, there have been no further announcements).

Yet that latter point makes it all the more important to raise it now.

Too often at Sunderland, that short-term thinking (which was happening long before the current regime took over, too), ‘let's see where we are at the next transfer window’, ‘let's see how these takeover talks develop’, have defined a club unable to build sustainably for the future.

It's the kind of thinking that has led to a goalkeeper joining one of the UK's biggest clubs for free, and the most talented striker in a generation to leave for a fraction of his value.

The players in question

Contract expirations, it must be said, are a fact of life in League One.

For most clubs it make sense to have valuable breathing room every summer to refresh and reinvest.

Indeed, it worked to Phil Parkinson's advantage this summer, allowing him in a challenging market to make some key changes to the profile of his squad.

Some players, though, have to be placed in a different category for a club that has talked about creating value in the team and self-suffiency in the long run.

Players with a resale value and potential for further growth need to be on deals that can protect the club's investment.

Right now, the Black Cats have a clutch of players in this category.

Denver Hume, the wing-back who is raising eyebrows across the division for his ability to hurt defences from deep. If at times there have been concerns over his defensive game, then it must be noted that in this department he has of late been growing from strength to strength.

Luke O'Nien, too, a player who has had Championship interest in the past and who has only grown as a player since then.

Elliot Embleton and Jack Diamond are also in the final year of their deals, though in that case of Embleton it is fair to say that getting back to full fitness has to be the immediate priority for the attacking midfielder.

Some necessary caveats

These are, of course, most exceptional circumstances and there are some external factors that must be considered.

One, the financial implications of the Government's decision to prevent the return of fans to the Stadium of Light.

The club's revenue streams will be affected considerably, and it's worth remembering that Parkinson hinted even before the decision was confirmed that the uncertainty was affecting the key appointments mentioned above.

Sunderland also have a major issue when it comes to the salary cup rules introduced earlier in the summer.

Parkinson has already said Sunderland have little money left to play with and it's an issue as all three of these players are currently counted as earning the League One average.

Sign a new deal, and they will be counted on the value of their new wage.

With both Willis and Hume, too, it is not clear whether the option to extend their deals was written into the orginal contract.

Last year that was the case with both O'Nien and Chris Maguire, though supporters had to wait until the publication of the retained list to have their fears assuaged.

So what next?

This was another tumultuous summer on Wearside, in which one of the key developments was the departure of Head of Football Operations Richard Hill.

Hill had been the main figure in all contract negotiations, and so it will be interesting to observe whether club's approach shifts in the coming months.

There was an encouraging sign last week when, amid very little background noise and with seemingly few obstacles, Dan Neil was signed to a long-term deal that protects the club against losing one it's most talented players, and also rewards the 18-year-old for both his loyalty and exciting development on the pitch.

Key figures have spoken about adding value to the club and building that long-term sustainability.

One of the best ways to underline that change in thinking would be to commit some their brightest prospects to longer deals.

The key question, of course, is whether a club still in takeover limbo is able to do so.

Three months on from their last update of sorts on the matter, fans still have little to no information on where things stand in that regard.

The longer that continues, the more fears will grow that familiar problems will emerge.

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