Fulham player features: 5 free agents who Sunderland AFC must consider ASAP | OneFootball

With the regular Championship season concluded, Sunderland's attention will now have firmly turned to the summer transfer window, and there are plenty of free agents that they should be looking at.

It is a time of transition at the Stadium of Light with a new manager set to arrive over the summer, and players who are out of contract can be a great way to refresh a squad without hurting the budget too much.

With a couple of key players also linked with moves away from the Black Cats, some on this list may come as low-cost quality replacements.

Here, FLW looks at five free agents that Sunderland should be looking at this summer...

Chris Willock

Winger Chris Willock signed for his current club, Queens Park Rangers, from Benfica back in 2020, signing a three-year deal with an optional year, which was activated and has taken him through to this summer.

The 26-year-old played 39 times in the Championship for QPR this season, scoring four goals and providing four assists in an otherwise struggling side, although he rediscovered himself under Martin Cifuentes having been frozen out by the Spaniard's predecessor, Gareth Ainsworth.

It feels like Willock may have reached a natural end with the Hoops, with the club keen to keep him on, but the fact no contract has been signed yet signals the player may feel the same.

It would take a drastic turnaround to see his current club mounting a serious challenge for the play-off places next season, whereas that is precisely what Sunderland will be aiming for at a minimum.

Linked already with a move to Wearside, a switch would also work well for the Black Cats as current left-winger Jack Clarke has been linked with multiple Premier League sides throughout the year, so Willock could be a low-cost quality replacement if that happens.

Josh Murphy

Another free agent that could fill the gap left by Clarke on the left flank is Josh Murphy, who has recently just helped his current side Oxford United to the Championship via the League One play-offs.

Murphy, brother of Jacob from Newcastle United, scored six goals and provided four assists in the regular season, and he proved that he can be counted on when the pressure's on, notching a decisive brace at Wembley to send his club to the second tier.

Recognising the potential for Clarke's departure, the Black Cats are already reportedly interested in Murphy, with his current contract expiring this summer.

The fact that the 29-year-old dropped to League One suggests that his wage demands may be more affordable than Willock's, but Murphy arrives with a strong pedigree, having turned out 199 times in the Championship and 38 times in the Premier League with Norwich City and Cardiff City.

That experience could be what's necessary for Sunderland to take that next step into the play-offs, and Murphy could prove to be an absolute steal.

Axel Tuanzebe

Assuming no transfer offers come in, there are currently five centre-backs in the Sunderland squad (including Luke O'Nien, who can play a variety of positions), with two of those - Jenson Seelt and Nectar Triantis - still relatively early in their senior careers.

If Sunderland want to make a consistent push towards promotion, they will likely have to cope with unexpected absences at points, and standards must remain high.

The defensive unit seems an obvious area to beef up in this regard, and they could do worse than attract a player like Axel Tuanzebe, whose one-year deal at Ipswich Town is set to expire this summer, although they hold the option to extend it by a year.

The 26-year-old played 18 Championship games last term and that was mostly out of position at right-back, but there is no doubting the defender's quality, with Tuanzebe having once famously kept Kylian Mbappe quiet in his Manchester United days.

Having split his time between centre-back and right-back for the Tractor Boys this season, he also has an adaptability that is always useful for a squad looking for consistently high levels throughout the campaign, regardless of injuries.

He may not be top of the Black Cats' shopping list, but it seems certain that a team somewhere will come along and give his career the rebooting it needs. Sunderland should make it their prerogative if the opportunity is there.

Marek Rodak

Another key player at the Stadium of Light that has reportedly received substantial Premier League interest in recent months is goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.

At just 24 years old, Patterson has maturity beyond his years between the sticks and has kept 13 clean sheets this season, so it is easy to see why clubs are interested.

Should he depart, current Fulham backup gloveman Marek Rodak may be available, with his contract running out this year and no news on an extension.

The 27-year-old will want to be first-choice somewhere at this stage in his career, and could be handed that honour at Sunderland if Patterson leaves.

Despite having not been a regular recently, Rodak does have extensive experience being Fulham's no.1 in the second tier and racking up 111 Championship appearances for his current club and Rotherham United.

Replacing a goalkeeper can be difficult, especially when they're as ingrained as Patterson has become, but Rodak could be a quick and low-cost solution if the Black Cats find themselves in that scenario.

Saman Ghoddos

Saman Ghoddos had originally been released at the expiry of his previous Brnetford deal last summer, but was months later re-signed for a further year with the Bees, taking him up to the end of this season - where it was announced he would once again depart.

Providing that announcement holds this time around, Sunderland may be intrigued by his status as a free agent.

Following stints in Sweden and France, the 50-cap Iran international moved to Brentford when they were in the Championship.

Appearing 43 times across the regular season and the play-offs of that pivotal campaign, Ghoddos was instrumental in getting the Bees promoted to the Premier League.

The 30-year-old therefore has experience that aligns perfectly with the Black Cats' objectives, along with Premier League pedigree, and could prove to be a bargain as a free agent.

The attacking midfielder has played numerous positions throughout his career, making him a real asset for squad management, but his natural position is one that may need strengthening with Bradley Dack departing and Jobe Bellingham receiving substantial interest.

He may be another one who is not a top priority at the Stadium of Light, but he would certainly add something to an area of the squad that may soon become a bit thin, and he would do so for a relatively low price.