Cats have until May 25 to submit their released and retained lists
Sunderland will have extra time to make decisions about players’ contracts at the end of this season - due to their participation in the League One play-off final.
At the end of each campaign EFL clubs have to submitthelistofplayerstheyplan to release and those who they wishtoretainbyasetdeadline.
For the 21/22 season that deadlinefallsonSaturday,May 21, the same day as the play-off final when the Cats will face Wycombe at Wembley. Yet with Sunderland’s divisional status still unclear, they won’t have to make any contractual decisions until four days after the club’s final fixture of the season. That means Sunderland and Wycombe will have until Wednesday, May 25 to submit their released and retained lists.
Thisdoesnotmeanallcontracts have to be signed by this date, and the Black Cats will simply need to indicate which players they will be offering new terms to. Negotiations over contracts can then take as long as is required.
Sunderland can also choose when they make their retainedandreleasedlistpublic, as the aforementioned deadline is only for when lists need to be submitted to the EFL. The Black Cats have several players nearing the end of their contracts this summer, including Arbenit Xhemajli, Lee Burge, Aiden McGeady, Lynden Gooch, Bailey Wright and Jordan Willis.
Patrick Roberts also signedashort-termdealuntil the end of the season in January, yet there is a club option for that to be extended.
*Bali Mumba and Dion Sanderson have returned to their parent clubs following loans in the Championship.
Sanderson has returned to Wolves but is said to be on the radar of several Championship sides after an impressive season on loan at QPR.
Sunderland were interested in bringing Sanderson back to the Stadium of Light last summer but that deal was made harder when the Black Cats failed to win promotion to the Championship.
Another former Sunderland player, Bali Mumba, has also returned to his parent club Norwich City,
Mumba joined Peterborough on loan last campaign and scored the winner on his debutina2-1winagainstBristol Rovers in the FA Cup third round. However, the 20-yearold midfielder was part of the Poshsidethatsufferedrelegation back to League One under Grant McCann.