The key factors that will determine Charlie Wyke, Luke O'Nien, Aiden McGeady and Denver Hume's Sunderland futures

It is certain to be a busy summer of recruitment but key to the Black Cats’ planning will be what a quartet of crucial players opt to do next.

Sunderland want to keep Charlie Wyke, Luke O’Nien, Denver Hume and Aiden McGeady, but all have big decisions to make with interest from elsewhere certain.

So what will be the key factors and what should supporters expect to happen next?

We run you through...

LUKE O'NIEN

O'Nien's affection for the club is clear but it's also an important moment in his career.

Interest from the Championship is inevitable, and indeed he is a player who many have kept a close eye on ever since his impressive first season on Wearside at 2018/19.

O'Nien is robust (140 appearances in three seasons), versatile, athletic, willing to learn and an excellent professional.

Sunderland are understandably eager to keep him, and a big question for the player himself is where he sees himself playing in the future.

His outstanding form at centre back as defensive injuries mounted appeared to at least test Johnson's early belief that his long-term position would be in midfield.

Towards the end of the campaign, the head coach appeared to be moving back towards that plan, talking of the desire to get O'Nien's energy back further up the pitch.

Long considered one of the club's better finishers, there is surely a big opportunity for O'Nien to play a key part in a remodelled midfield where intensity and high tempo is going to be the goal.

O'Nien is an ambitious footballer with aspirations to test himself at a higher level.

It will be up to Sunderland to convince him that his best prospect of doing that regularly is by staying on Wearside for now.

DENVER HUME

Johnson has spoken excitedly of the potential he believes Hume has and the head coach wants to make him a central part of his plans next season.

There is no doubting Hume's attacking prowess, particularly in the way he can carry the ball forward from deep.

There were also signs of significant improvements in his defensive game in the early stages of this season, but his progress has been checked by three hamstring injuries through the second half of the campaign.

Hume's potential will draw interest from elsewhere and it would be a big blow to lose an academy product.

Sunderland will hope that the key role he will have if he stays will be enough to convince him to continue his development.

AIDEN McGEADY

Though at the time he was still confident the season would end in promotion, McGeady said early in April that he hoped to stay at Sunderland beyond this season.

He likes the area, the club, and opted not to leave even when it seemed like the obvious option last summer.

For his part, Johnson has been absolutely clear that he wants the winger to be a key part of his squad next season.

That gives confidence an agreement will be reached but as Johnson has said, that will ultimately be between McGeady and Speakman.

Last week's minor contract scare was instructive, when McGeady was forced to waive a clause that would trigger a 12-month extension on his current terms. With the possibility of a fourth season in League One in play, the club were not willing to sanction such a commitment.

McGeady's drive to earn Sunderland promotion cannot be questioned given the regularity with which he has played through injury over the last three seasons.

To stay it seems clear that he will have to reach an agreement on reduced terms, but the appetite appears to be there from all parties.

It's an interesting insight into the new dynamic at the club, with a Sporting Director with the ultimate responsibility for the footballing operation, and with a clear remit to prioritise long-term sustainability.

A compromise at this stage looks to be in everyone's interest.

CHARLIE WYKE

At this stage retaining Wyke looks to be Sunderland's biggest challenge.

In announcing their retained list, Sunderland said that they would offer contracts to the aforementioned trio and that 'discussions continue' with Wyke over this future at he club.

That seems a nod to the scale of the Championship interest in the 28-year-old who could have a major opportunity to secure a second-tier contract at a key moment in his career.

Johnson has said that he hopes to keep Wyke, and that the improvements he has clearly made this season would work in the club's favour.

He has also spoken more broadly, though, of how the cost of not winning promotion could be in losing players he would ideally like to retain.

It's clear that Wyke could fall into this category, and as the retained list was announced the clear feeling behind the scenes was that the striker will in all likelihood leave the club.

In the aftermath of Sunderland’s 3-2 aggregate defeat to Lincoln City last week, Johnson said: “There’s going to be a natural evolution of the squad now. Some players will have played their last game there today for various reasons.

"Some we may want to keep but can’t afford to, some we might not want and will want to move on, and others we might want to retain and will give them our best offer.

At this stage, Wyke’s return for pre-season would be a surprise.

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