Sunderland are set to play Championship football for the first time since 2018 next season with excitement already building on Wearside.
The hope for Alex Neil's side is that they can stabilise themselves back in the second tier of English football next season with an experienced squad at the Scotsman's disposal.
However, there are a number of key players for the Black Cats who are out of contract next summer, which means Championship survival is imperative if Sunderland want to continue to build.
ChronicleLive takes a look at who is out of contract for the Black Cats next summer.
Ross Stewart
Striker Ross Stewart is the headline name out of contract next summer at the Stadium of Light. The forward, who recently made his Scotland debut, scored 26 goals in 53 appearances for Sunderland last season, spearheading the Black Cats attack.
The 25-year-old bagged himself a goal at Wembley too to finish off a stellar season for Alex Neil's side as Sunderland earned promotion with a 2-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers in the League One play-off final.
Good performances from Stewart will be key to helping Sunderland stabilise their place back in the Championship. If they fail to stay up and Stewart impresses, they could lose him for free next summer, which means tying the forward down to a new deal is imperative for Neil and co.
READ MORE: Ross Stewart on his 'pride' after making his Scotland debut in Nations League win
Alex Pritchard
With 14 assists in all competitions last season, Alex Pritchard is one of the Black Cats best creative outlets.
The winger featured in 47 games for Sunderland and played in every one of their play-off games. He was instrumental in the final against Wycombe too, bagging two assists as Sunderland earned promotion.
At 29, Sunderland may be unsure on whether or not to keep Pritchard around due to his age. His contract is set to expire next summer but he is clearly an important player for the Black Cats and Alex Neil.
Corry Evans
Sunderland captain Corry Evans is also out of contract next summer. He played 40 games for the Black Cats this season, proving to be an experienced head in the heart of Sunderland's midfield following his arrival last summer.
Evans has plenty of Championship experience having starred for Blackburn and Hull City in the past.
However, Evans, while experienced, will turn 33 before the start of the 2023/24 season. While he remains an important figure at the Stadium of Light, the Black Cats may opt to get younger in the middle of the park rather than older. A short term deal could be the option here.
Anthony Patterson
Goalkeeper Anthony Patterson became Sunderland's first choice keeper in February and was an ever-present starter for the remainder of the campaign.
At just 22, Patterson should be someone Neil and co look to keep around if he can adapt well to the rigours of the Championship.
Carl Winchester
Carl Winchester was a solid, dependable member of Sunderland's starting XI last season. Both Lee Johnson and Alex Neil trusted the 29-year-old to play across a number of different positions for the Black Cats, with the utility man featuring at right-back, centre-back and in centre-midfield.
He missed out on featuring during the play-offs due to injury but should continue to be an important member of the Sunderland squad next season. However, it remains to be seen whether or not the Black Cats will extend him past 2023.
Danny Batth
31-year-old Danny Batth arrived at the Stadium of Light in January and played a key part in helping the Black Cats jump back to the Championship.
While he only featured nine times, Batth played all 90 minutes of Sunderland's final six games of the season, which included the play-off semi-final win over Sheffield Wednesday and the Wembley win against Wycombe Wanderers.
In Batth, Sunderland have a veteran defender with Championship experience. He will likely be an important squad member for next season but like Winchester and Evans, it remains to be seen whether Sunderland will want to keep an ageing defender on their books ahead of the 2023/24 season.
