Sunderland’s contractual state – how it compares
Almost 200 League One players are currently set to be made free agents this summer, with the current contracts set to expire on June 30 – but which clubs are going to be hit the hardest?
With League One football unlikely to resume in the short-term, and clubs cutting their cloth in a financial sense, there looks to be a surplus of players released this summer.
In turn, this looks set to transform the third tier next season – with a number of clubs likely to have a vastly different squad in place by the time the 2020/21 campaign kicks-off.
But which clubs could see the most turnover this summer?
Sunderland have no fewer than a dozen players out of contract on June 30, including a number of key men, and they are far from alone in that regard.
But only three clubs in the third tier face a more stark contract crisis than the one seen at the Academy of Light.
According to data from TransferMarkt, Burton Albion could be hardest hit by the contract uncertainty as they see 15 players’ contracts expire this summer.
Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers both have 13 players out of contract, while Tranmere Rovers and MK Dons could also see their player departure numbers enter double figures.
AFC Wimbledon have the fewest in the division, with just three, followed by Portsmouth, who have five.
But with clarity over the League One campaign expected in the coming days, that could allow clubs to dish out some more contracts to their players.