Hello and welcome to the Sunderland AFC live blog for Tuesday, June 11.
The Black Cats are preparing for another important summer as they look to mount another promotion campaign following the disappointment of last season.
Jack Ross knows only promotion will do, and will spend the coming weeks assessing what changes he needs to make to his Sunderland squad.
The futures of some players are in the air, with some more additions expected before the new season gets under way.
Get involved in the conversation. Follow us on Twitter at @ChronicleSAFC , on Facebook at chroniclesafc or on Instagram at chroniclesafc .
Inside Sunderland's Academy
Stuart Rayner was given exclusive behind-the-scenes access to Sunderland's Academy. Here are the key stories and features.
Better than Liverpool
Better than Liverpool: How Sunderland's Academy is blazing a trail in football
We're so proud of Henderson and Pickford - but it's just the start
How Sunderland's Academy graduates are making the grade together
Why loan moves can be crucial for Sunderland's stars of tomorrow
From the head down
'From the head down rather than the feet up' - Sunderland's safety net is vital
Judgement comes every day for Sunderland's youngsters - dealing with that is crucial
Sunderland Acacdemy role models don't have to take the Premier League route
Evolution
How Sunderland are at the forefront in the evolution of coaching juniors
Four key principles - but flexibility is the key for Sunderland's Academy
It's not just football - why focus on education and psychological needs is growing
Why
Forget the league table - this is why Sunderland's academy have had a good season
'The academy players probably get more scrutiny' - Sunderland's Lynden Gooch
Premier League poachers provide biggest threat to Sunderland's academy
What Sunderland's first team want from the Academy - and how they deliver
Key Events
Signing off
That’s all from us today - we’ll leave you with some of our most-read.
- Sunderland retained list revealed with Matthews and Stryjek leaving
- The impressive amount Sunderland’s squad is worth as League One rank revealed
- Former Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford: I’ve grown following off-field drama
- Sunderland target Jason Pearce reportedly has his heart set on Portsmouth return
- Maddison, Marquis and Shankland - the players Sunderland fans want to see the Black Cats sign
Who has been retained/offered a new deal?
Players aged over 24 as of June 30 who have been retained:
Jack Baldwin
Lee Cattermole
Tom Flanagan
Will Grigg
George Honeyman
Reece James
Grant Leadbitter
Glenn Loovens
Donald Love
Chris Maguire
Aiden McGeady
Dylan McGeouch
Jon McLaughlin
Luke O’Nien
Bryan Oviedo
Alim Ozturk
Max Power
Duncan Watmore
Charlie Wyke
Players aged under 24 as of June 30 who have been retained or have a contract offer pending:
Jack Bainbridge
Lee Connelly
Jack Connolly
Jack Diamond
Elliot Embleton
Owen Gamble
Lynden Gooch
Jake Hackett
Denver Hume
Jordan Hunter
Benji Kimpioka
Bali Mumba
Ethan Robson
Brandon Taylor
Jacob Young
Max Stryjek departure particularly surprising
Big news coming out of the Stadium of Light this afternoon:
Sunderland confirm released list
Adam Matthews, Luke Molyneux, Max Stryjek and Robbin Ruiter will leave the club along with under-23 players Max Johnstone, Connor Shields and Alex Storey.
Sunderland's squad worth
According to Transfermarkt, it blows the rest of League One out of the water...
Luke Molyneux set to join Hartlepool
The midfielder was released by Sunderland last week and it seems he is set to join Hartlepool, with whom he enjoyed a spell on loan, on a free transfer.
Anders Lindegaard on David Moyes
Scathing from the former Manchester United goalkeeper on the ex-Sunderland boss.
He told the Evening Standard:
“I didn’t feel it ageing. It felt more like we just couldn’t adjust to a new way of life.
“It seemed like trying to charge an iPhone with a Nokia charger. It just slowly went flat.
“Who was ever going to lift the club after the boss?”
Will Sunderland be promoted next season
Now that the dust has settled, what do you think?
Portsmouth keen on Lawrence Shankland
Sunderland are keen to sign the free agent after a goal-laden season at Ayr United but they are set to face competition from League One rivals Portsmouth.
Lawrence Shankland has emerged as the latest name on Pompey’s striking hit-list.
The News understands the prolific Scotsman is under consideration by Kenny Jackett as he continues his search for reinforcements up front.
League One rivals Sunderland are also thought to be interested in the man who bagged 34 goals from 41 appearances for Ayr United in the Scottish Championship last term.
Three clubs including a ‘sleeping giant’ are reported to be keen on the goal machine, who is leaving his existing outfit with his contract at a close.
Sunderland target has heart set on a Portsmouth return
The Portsmouth News are reporting that Jason Pearce has his heart set on a return to Pompey this summer.
The Charlton defender is said to be a target for Sunderland and is waiting to see if he is in Lee Bowyer’s Addicks’ plans next term.
If not, Pompey are keen on a season-long loan move before making the deal permanent once Pearce’s Charlton contract expires at the end of next season.
Cattermole and Oviedo interest mounting
Sunderland are keen to offload the duo and their hefty wages and it seems as if there is plenty of interest in their services.
Sunderland could be about to slash more than £70,000-a-week from their wage bill, with Lee Cattermole and Bryan Oviedo the subject of mounting interest from clubs wanting to take them from the Stadium of Light.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Steve Bruce is desperate to be reunited with Cattermole at Hillsborough, and while Owls officials are reluctant to match the midfielder’s current earnings on Wearside, the former Sunderland boss remains hopeful a deal can be agreed.
Oviedo is the subject of strong interest from Belgian side Club Brugge, with Norwegian club Rosenborg also having made a formal inquiry about the full-back this summer.
Mark Campbell's takeover bid remains on course
The Sunderland Echo report that the deal should go through next week.
Mark Campbell’s plans to become majority shareholder at Sunderland remain on course with the deal expected to go through by the end of next week.
Campbell is an Englishman, not American, and he has business interests in the UK and New York.
A date of June 19 had been reported for the Campbell-led consortium to come on board at the Stadium of Light but the Echo understands it is likely to be later next week.
The Echo can also reveal that Campbell’s background is in real estate, not in the stock market, as reported elsewhere.
Bali Mumba set for a loan move?
Under-23s coach Elliot Dickman has hinted as much.
“Bali was in the first team at the start of the season and there is no doubting his quality,.
“But he needed time to develop, as it is first full season in the building as a player and he is still only 17.
“He has had a year in the Under-23s, and next season, we will have a look at him and see what sort of level might benefit him to go and play senior football.
“After a couple of years of playing Under-23s football, you need to go on loan and play first-team football, but there are individual circumstances for all the lads.”
Loan signings
Loan signings can work, says Craig Johns. Sunderland just need to make better use of them.
Jill Scott
England and Manchester City midfielder Jill Scott spoke of the motive of her family and friends watching her perform at the World Cup.
The Lionesses kicked off their World Cup campaign with a 2-1 win over tournament debutants Scotland despite an imperfect performance.
Sunderland-born Scott completed the 90 minutes of her opening game at her fourth World Cup in front of her family and friends. The midfielder’s sister, Amanda, two nephews Charlie and Dexter along with a strong extended family and friend contingent were present.
She said: “They have all come to the first game which was nice to see them in the stands, I think a few of them had my shirt on so I’ve probably got no shirts left now.”
However, the demands of travelling to follow the Lionesses means Scott will be without the familiar faces in the crowd. The veteran explained: “Due to the travelling, they will miss the next two [games] and then hopefully if things go to plan they’ll come out depending on how far we get in the tournament.
“That’s an incentive in itself because you want to give your family and friends the opportunity to come to a World Cup.”
Fans' targets
We asked you on our Facebook page which one player you would most like to see Sunderland sign this summer.
Morning
Hi everyone and welcome to today’s Sunderland live blog.
We’ll have the latest news and views coming up throughout the day.
