It was a miserable season for Sunderland supporters during 2016/17 and a miserable time of things in the Barclays Premier League ensured that Sky Bet Championship becomes a reality during the next campaign.

With David Moyes departing as manager the Black Cats must now look to ensure that they get the right manager in place to try and earn promotion back to the top flight at the very first attempt.

It looks set to be a long summer for the North East-based club with several players likely to leave the Stadium of Light and at this stage it remains to be seen whether the team will be strong enough to compete in the higher regions of the second tier.

With lots of wheeling and dealing likely to be done by the football club in the coming weeks, Football League World writer Lee Clarke takes a look at some of the deals that could be done by Sunderland in preparation for 2017/18.

Sign - Garry Monk

If Sunderland are to have any chance of being successful next season then they must ensure that a quality Championship manager is announced in the coming weeks.

Monk narrowly missed out on the play-offs during his maiden campaign with Leeds United but he did do a lot of good for the Whites in his short period with the club.

Monk is the standout candidate for the vacancy at the Stadium of Light and if Sunderland don't get the former Swansea City manager then somebody else certainly will.

Sign - Glenn Murray

The target men netted 23 goals for Brighton and Hove Albion last season to fire them into the Premier League for the first time since its formation in 1992, much to the delight of their supporters.

At 33-years-old, however, Murray could be deemed surplus to requirements when it comes to the demands of football in the Premier League and that could open the door for Sunderland.

Replacing the goals scored by Jermain Defoe will be a must for the Black Cats and Murray would represent a solid signing if a deal can be completed.

Axe - Sebastian Larsson

The Swedish international has been at Sunderland since 2011 and after some mediocre performances during last season it could be the time for the Black Cats to part ways with the ex-Arsenal youngster.

The 31-year-old is not getting any younger and this summer could be the right time to finally offload the man who is seen by many Sunderland fans as way past his best.

Axe - Lamine Kone

The big Ivorian defender played 30 games for the Black Cats last season but it does seem unlikely that the solid central defender will stick around and play Championship football.

The sale of one of the club's better players could allow the new manager  the chance to make his own mark on the squad and the player to raise such funds could be Kone.

Sunderland fans, would you be happy with these pieces of transfer business this summer? Let us know in the comments below!!!