There will undoubtedly be a lot of changes made behind the scenes at the Stadium of Light following a lackluster season in which the team finished 16th in the league and stagnated in the second tier. Many players’ short- and long-term futures will be discussed, and a new manager will be required.
They must now choose a suitable candidate as soon as possible to assist in guiding the team into the upcoming season. Mike Dodds served as interim manager until the end of the season. During his two months in charge, Michael Beale failed to win over the doubters, making him an unpopular appointment with Black Cats supporters.
Dodds was only in interim charge but the club have had four permanent managers in two years and are in need of the next boss to take a young squad to the next level. A swift appointment would also allow for an easier summer, with whoever comes in able to assess the playing squad and hit the ground running, whilst dragging things out could see the Black Cats fall behind their Championship peers in preparation for next season.
For now, the club have plenty of work to do, and that includes tying down players to longer-term deals that are running out of contract in the next year.
There are four players who have their deals ending in 2025 at the Stadium of Light and are on course to depart if nothing changes…
Elliot Embleton
Elliot Embleton has experience being promoted with Sunderland; nevertheless, he was loaned out during the first part of the previous campaign in order to provide Derby County with an additional creative attacking option.
But it was merely a loan, and an unsuccessful and somewhat unremarkable one at that. With only a year left on his contract, he is currently in limbo, undermining hopes that he may give their midfield greater inventiveness and the ability to strike from range.
Going into the upcoming season, the club and the academy graduate must choose what is best for him; but, at this point, an extension seems doubtful.
Niall Huggins
Versatile full-back Niall Huggons is capable of playing on both sides for Sunderland but has failed to nail down a regular first-team spot since joining the club from Leeds United.
Huggins has been hampered by injuries and made just 20 appearances last season so will be hoping to kick on and prove his worth in pre-season, after showing flashes throughout the 2023/24 campaign.
The Welsh U-21 international has played just 28 times for Sunderland in total since the summer of 2021 and may be looking for a move should he not get more of a look-in with the senior squad next season if his injuries are behind him.
At 23, the defender is still young and iNews reported back in December that the Wearsiders were working on a new contract.
Chris Rigg
Youngster Chris Rigg has already made a breakthrough into senior football, making his debut well over 12 months ago under Tony Mowbray in an FA Cup third round clash against Shrewsbury Town.
He scored three goals this season, with one coming in an EFL Cup tie against Crewe, another earlier in the season in a 5-0 thumping of Southampton, and the last during a 5-1 loss to Blackburn Rovers.
Featuring as often as he has at his age was always likely to catch the eye and Premier League and Bundesliga clubs have been linked, which will only make his contract situation something that Sunderland will be more keen to solve.
Rigg cannot sign a professional contract until he turns 17 later this month and though it is said that there is an agreement over terms between the player and his current club, interest from elsewhere could yet scupper things.
Alex Bass
The Sunderland loanee Alex Bass has been playing exceptionally well for AFC Wimbledon this season, establishing himself as a dependable presence in goal for the Dons.
It is impossible to overstate Bass’ impact on a backline that was notorious for giving goals away last season, and his parent club Sunderland will have to make a significant choice on his future this summer.
Although Wearside’s contract expires in the summer of 2025, the club may choose to extend it for an additional year at that time.
