The next few weeks are going to be pivotal for Sunderland.

The play-offs are looming large and Lee Johnson knows that the club's future will be dictated by how the Black Cats get on against Lincoln City over two legs, and then in a potential Wembley final.

Whatever happens on the pitch will go a long way to dictating what goes on in the transfer market.

Plenty of names have already been linked with a move to the Stadium Of Light, but equally a similar amount have been linked with a move away from the club due to their contract situations.

So what deals can supporters expect to happen over the coming weeks and months? We take a look at some of the players linked with a summer switch.

A player who will surely be on Sunderland's radar this summer.

Football League World exclusively revealed that Jordan Jones was on the radar of North East rivals Middlesbrough ahead of the summer, but the Black Cats also look set to be in the hunt.

Jones has played 19 games so far for Lee Johnson's side, scoring three goals and creating four more for the club.

Rangers look keen to offload the player, and according to Football Insider, Jones would be keen on a permanent move to Sunderland at the end of the season.

Whether this will come to fruition, however, remains to be seen.

The Rotherham United defender has certainly emerged as a transfer target for Sunderland.

Football Insider have claimed that the Black Cats are among the clubs interest in a Clarke Robertson who faces an uncertain future with his contract due to expire at the end of the campaign.

The 27-year-old hasn't committed to a new deal and looks increasingly likely to move on.

The report claims that Sunderland will face competition from Fleetwood Town, Plymouth Argyle and Aberdeen as they look to sign the player.

Limited to just 16 appearances this term due to injury, a move would certainly appeal for Lee Johnson's side as they look to resolve a lack of options in defence.

Sunderland are certainly going to be looking for a striker this summer and Kevin Nisbet could be the man.

Reports from the Birmingham Mail have claimed that Lee Johnson’s side have joined Brentford and Birmingham City as potential destinations for the attacker.

The Hibernian striker has enjoyed an excellent season for Jack Ross's side after scoring 18 goals for the club, while also contributing eight assists.

The Wearsiders may well be looking for a new man to lead the line with speculation building around Charlie Wyke, and if the Black Cats can get a deal done, this could prove to be one of the signings of the summer.

Signing a left-back is bound to be a priority for Sunderland this summer.

One player who has been heavily linked is Josh Doig who has enjoyed quite a season with Hibernian in Scotland.

The 18-year-old has already established himself as a first team regular at Easter Road after making 34 appearances for the club so far this term.

With four assists to his name, it seems that Doig could be one of the next top young talents to come from Scotland and establish themselves as a big player in the game.

Whether Sunderland can get a deal done remains to be seen, but this certainly looks like one which could pay off in the short-term and also the long-term.

As for outgoings, there's only one place that we can really start.

Charlie Wyke is a player who is attracting plenty of interest ahead of the summer window with Middlesbrough and CSKA Moscow among the contenders to sign him

The 28-year-old is out of contract this summer and after scoring 30 goals for Lee Johnson's side it's no surprise at all that he's gaining such admiring glances.

Wyke's future at Sunderland could be decided by the club's journey through the play-offs, but if the Wearsiders find themselves in League One again next term then it would take a brave man to bet against him sticking around.

Aiden McGeady is a player who could go from zero to hero.

The experienced winger was exiled from the Sunderland squad under previous boss Phil Parkinson and looked all-but certain to make a low-key departure from the Stadium Of Light.

However his career has been reinvigorated under Lee Johnson with McGeady becoming one of the club's most important assets.

The 35-year-old is out of contract this summer and with the player likely to be the highest-paid player in League One, there is a real question over whether he'll be at the club next term.

Whether he will extend his deal or not remains to be seen, but it certainly looks more likely that he'll be moving on.

Another player who could leave the club this summer.

Football League World exclusively revealed that Middlesbrough were plotting a move for Lee Burge as the summer transfer window approaches.

The goalkeeper is out of contract and with interest from the Championship it seems that there's a big question mark over his future.

Burge has certainly established himself as Lee Johnson's first choice goalkeeper and so the club will no doubt be looking to keep him at the Stadium Of Light next term.

But similarly to Wyke and McGeady, his future could be decided by how the play-off push plays out.

A player who looks certain to leave Sunderland.

Dion Sanderson is currently on loan at the club from Wolverhampton Wanderers and has really established himself as a star player for Lee Johnson's side.

Given his form it seems unlikely that the player will be in League One next term, which means that unless Sunderland are promoted, they're unlikely to stand any chance of bringing him back to the club.

Lee Johnson would no doubt love to re-sign the player this summer but this is one that the club will need to be patient with if they're to have any chance of bringing him back next term.