Keeping Reece James and Dylan McGeouch leaves Sunderland over-stocked - something must give

The news that Reece James and Dylan McGeouch have signed new contracts at the Stadium of Light will increase the pressure on Sunderland to make sales this summer – although it could even be those two who end up leaving.

When the Black Cats announced their retained list earlier this week, those were two of the names people were looking for. There were high hopes for both when they joined as free agents 12 months ago, but neither made the final 18 for the play-off final.

And although injuries have been a problem throughout their careers, both were fit for consideration for the Wembley match against Charlton Athletic.

Left-back James was signed for his experience of having twice won League One with Wigan Athletic, so perhaps Sunderland’s 2-1 defeat was his saving grace.

Deep-lying playmaker McGeouch showed his class in flashes, most notably in pre-season and in the aftermath of the Football League Trophy final , but was unable to tie down a regular starting place. The Scotland international kicked off just 14 league matches last season. James began 23, but lost his place when it mattered.

Left-back and central midfield are two positions where Sunderland are arguably over-stocked.

The first issue will be solved if, as they hope, the Black Cats are able to sell Bryan Oviedo this summer, but the last two transfer windows have shown how difficult that will be,

Although Oviedo finished the season as the club’s first-choice left-back, his wages are way out of kilter with their League One status.

Oviedo signed from Everton when Sunderland were still a Premier League club, and his wages reflect that. Club Brugge were interested in signing the Costa Rican after he had played at last year’s World Cup, but decided a £1.5m fee on top of his pay was too much for them to stretch to.

West Bromwich Albion tried to take Oviedo on loan in January, but left it too late to complete a deal. On the evening of deadline day, Sunderland decided they did not have time to push through two deals and signing Wigan striker Will Grigg was a higher priority than pushing through Oviedo’s temporary move to the Championship club.

This summer another international tournament threatens to complicate matters, with Oviedo in Costa Rica's Gold Cup squad. The joint hosts' competition starts on Monday with a game against Nicaragua. Their last group game is on June 24, and the final on July 7.

Home-grown youngster Denver Hume signed a new contract last season, when he showed much promise in six league starts and three substitute appearances – it would have been much more but for injuries – but having Oviedo and James blocking his path does not make sense.

Sunderland released Adam Matthews, a right-back who can also play on the left, and would like to move on the versatile Donald Love, but again his wages could be an issue having moved between Premier League clubs when he joined from Manchester United. Central defender Tom Flanagan also has plenty of experience on the left side of defence.

Despite his obvious quality, McGeouch found the competition with Lee Cattermole, Grant Leadbitter, Max Power and George Honeyman too fierce. The Wearsiders have also offered a new contract to Elliot Embleton, and extended 17-year-old Bali Mumba’s deal last season. Embleton impressed on loan at Grimsby Town in 2018-19, and Mumba could well be loaned out next term.

Cattermole’s wages put him in a similar bracket to Oviedo, even though his importance to the team was far greater last season. Steve Bruce, who signed the Middlesbrough youth product for Wigan and Sunderland, has been linked with the Teessider again now he is at Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.

Manager Jack Ross signed Leadbitter in January, Power in August, and appointed Honeyman as captain. He values the leadership qualities of all three.

McGeouch spoke after the play-off defeat about considering his future , so signing a new contract may not necessarily be a sign of commitment on his part, just giving the Black Cats the option of a fee if he moves on.

Either way, the retention of James and McGeouch on to Sunderland's ridiculously bloated £14m wage bill highlights how important selling players will be to John Park if, as expected, he becomes the new director of football as part of a takeover by Mark Campbell.

Last season's disappointment showed the need to strengthen a squad which ultimately came up short, but that will not be possible without either moving more players on, or taking a huge risk and turning a blind eye to the financial insanity of having such a well-rewarded group of players for a second season of third-tier football.