Sunderland's first steps towards planning for the 2024-25 campaign got underway on Friday after the club submitted its retained list for next season with club captain Corry Evans among those set to leave the Stadium of Light this summer.

Evans, who joined the club in 2021, will leave Wearside at the expiry of his contract next month after the club confirmed they will not be taking up the option of an extension - bringing an end to Evans' three year stay.

The Northern Irishman made 67 appearances in his time with the club after joining from Blackburn Rovers and played a key role in helping Sunderland back to the Championship from League One. The 33-year-old remained a mainstay in the starting line-up last season until suffering a significant knee injury last January - a setback which has kept him out of action until his recent return as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat to Millwall at the Stadium of Light.

 

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Evans is joined by Bradley Dack who struggled to make an impact in his solitary year on Wearside after joining on a free transfer last summer while academy captain Ellis Taylor will also see his 11-year stay with the club come to an end. Taylor has led Sunderland's under-21s to the semi-finals of the Premier League 2 play-offs this season as Graeme Murty's team look to go one step further when they travel to Reading on Monday.

Meanwhile, Sunderland's overriding issue this off-season continues to unfold as the club remains in search of a new head coach. Several names have been linked with the vacancy as the club narrows its search down further. 

The latest We Are Sunderland briefing reflects on news of the club's retained list as Joe Ramage and Dom Shaw pay tribute to Evans, provide the latest on the head coach situation as well as look ahead to what's to come from the club's new chief business officer, David Bruce.

You can watch our latest briefing below or via our YouTube channel.

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