Several Sunderland youth products have attracted interest this summer after some solid showings during pre-season, according to the Sunderland Echo.
After goalkeeper Jordan Pickford joined Preston North End on a season-long loan last week, it is believed that a handful of other youngsters could follow a similar path, with several clubs interested in the best of the Black Cats' promising bunch.
Defender's best chance of first team football will come from a loan
One of these players attracting interest is 19-year-old Tom Beadling, who earned himself some involvement in the club's pre-season preparations this summer.
The teenage defender will see few chances at the Stadium of Light this year, with manager Dick Advocaat having brought in three defenders in the transfer window, but the centre-back has already had an enquiry made for him by an unnamed Scottish Premiership side, according to the Sunderland Echo.
Beadling is yet to experience competitive football at first team level and his best bet of doing so is sure to come from a loan, with Advocaat already having four options in his position in the squad.
Exciting young winger has admirers in the Football League
Another young man attracting attention elsewhere is Duncan Watmore. The 21-year-old winger was expected to be integrated into the Sunderland team at the end of last season when the side were falling deeper and deeper into trouble at the bottom of the table, but Advocaat decided against introducing him due to his inexperience at the top level.
However, this season, he could gain that experience needed, with League One duo Oldham Athletic and Scunthorpe United interested in the attacker, as well as Championship outfit Birmingham City.
Watmore looks to be on the verge of the first team, but his chances will be limited following the arrival of Jeremain Lens, and thus he would be better off learning about senior football elsewhere in the coming season. Once he has some better experience under his belt, added to a short stint with Hibernian when in the Scottish Premiership and non-league Clitheroe, he should be able to push through into the Black Cats squad.
Prolific striker another wanted man
French youngster Mikael Mandron also looks likely to spend some time away from Wearside in the coming campaign after some fantastic seasons at under-21 level for Sunderland.
The striker made one appearance in the season gone for the Black Cats and has already had two loan spells away from the club, spending the latter half of the 2013-14 campaign with Fleetwood Town and the same amount of time with Shrewsbury Town in 2014-15, both in League Two.
However, the 20-year-old has failed to make an impact in the fourth tier, scoring just one goal in 11 league games with the former and only managing three appearances whilst with the latter despite spending three months with them.
Still, Scottish top tier side Partick Thistle are believed to be pursuing the forward.
Good experience for the next generation
Sunderland's relegation-threatened last few years at the club are believed by many to be rooted in the fact that the same crop of players have played key roles in the team for those handful of poor seasons.
If the Black Cats send their youngsters out to gain more experience, they can prepare them for first team level and integrate them into the side for the coming seasons, bringing fresh creativity and ideas to a team that needs inspiring sooner, rather than later, if they are to push on in the Premier League.