The summer exodus is well and truly underway at Sunderland, with Jermain Defoe and Jordan Pickford having already left the club, and want-away Jermain Lens looks set to follow shortly. 

Whatever money Sunderland make from imminent departures, it has been suggested that Simon Grayson's budget will be a meager portion of that.

The Black Cats' manager may look to keep a hold of one of his more sell-able assets if he can, rather than rummaging the bargain bin.

One such asset is winger Whabi Khazri, who unlike his counterpart, Lens, has not made much noise in regards to a move and may not be as difficult to keep hold of.

The ongoing saga of Aiden McGeady's switch to Wearside, means that Sunderland are well short of wide men, following Fabio Borini's move to AC Milan.

Retaining Khazri's services not only goes someway to maintaining squad depth, but also prevents the need to buy more than one winger and making even more wholesale changes to the playing personnel in the process.

The right winger was initially dropped by David Moyes and appeared to be out of shape for some time after pre-season, but impressed in sporadic starts and indeed put in a man of the match display at home to West Ham in April, which included a goal direct from a corner kick.

The Tunisian would be one of the best in his position in the league should he stay, and with Sunderland lacking attacking options, he possesses the creativity they require to make a decent fist of promotion at the first attempt.

Should Khazri be assured a transfer should Sunderland fail to go up next season, they could persuade him to stay at the Stadium of Light, which would be as important as any summer signing.