Cats set for contract talks
Phil Parkinson is planning talks with Stewart Donald and Richard Hill to plan the club’s approach to a summer when a number of players see their contracts expire.
A number of players currently key to Parkinson’s side are in the final months of their current Black Cats deal, but the situation is complicated by the uncertainty of Sunderland’s league status.
The Sunderland boss admits that promotion to the Championship, or otherwise, is likely to guide some of the decisions made.
He intends to plan for both scenarios, allowing the club to move swiftly when their fate is settled.
“Myself, Richard Hill, and the chairman will have a chat about the situation,” Parkinson said.
"It is difficult, because of course at the moment we don't know where we are going to be and that dictates a lot of things, mainly the budget, obviously.
"We need to sit down and make decisions with different budgets in mind.”
Goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin is arguably the most prominent player at risk of leaving on a free.
Chairman Stewart Donald had signalled his intent to secure an extension last summer, but initial talks were not successful and at the turn of this year, McLaughlin said they had not been reopened.
He did, however, restate his desire to remain at the club, going as far as to say he was open to finishing his career on Wearside.
In defence, Alim Ozturk, Tom Flanagan and Joel
Lynch are out of contract in the summer. Jack Baldwin, currently on loan at Salford City, will also be out of contract.
Wing-back Luke O’Nien also sees the two-year deal he signed when joining the club expire, though there was an option for an extra year which is believed to have already been exercised.
Central midfielder Ethan Robson will also be out of contract, as will forwards Duncan Watmore and Chris Maguire. Maguire has stated his desire to stay and it is believed that he is another whose contract can automatically be extended for a further year. January signings Josh Scowen and Bailey Wright initially signed until the summer, with a view to extending. Kyle Lafferty and Tommy Smith are also on a short-term deals.