Simon Grayson has got to work quickly to assemble his squad ahead of the new Championship season, and has already brought in Brendan Galloway from Everton on a season-long loan.
Galloway, spent last term out on loan at West Bromwich Albion where he made five appearances for the Baggies.
Sunderland will be hoping to bounce back following their relegation from the Premier League, and the board seem to be backing their new manager in the transfer market to help him put together a squad they deem capable of challenging towards the top end of the Championship table.
The club have also seen a couple of departures since Grayson's arrival with strikers Jermain Defoe and Fabio Borini both exiting the Stadium of Light, to join AFC Bournemouth and AC Milan respectively, whilst experience defender John O'Shea has signed a new deal with the Black Cats to remain at the club until 2018.
One area that Grayson will need to address and strengthen is in the goalkeeping department, as they only have Vito Mannone and Mika Domingues as registered first team goalkeepers, and with Mannone playing second fiddle to Jordan Pickford for much of last season and Domingues having limited first team opportunities, Grayson may need to bring in another goalkeeper.
With this in mind the club should turn their attentions to Sam Johnstone.
The 24 year old shot stopper, currently plies his trade with Manchester United, but with David De Gea and Sergio Romero ahead of him in the pecking order, Johnstone may want to leave Old Trafford this summer to get some regular game time.
Johnstone, has had plenty of loan moves away from Old Trafford, as he has played for the likes of, Oldham, Scunthorpe, Yeovil, Doncaster and Preston and also spent last season out on loan at Aston Villa where he made over 20 appearances for the club.
Whilst at Preston, Johnstone played under Grayson and this could give Sunderland the upper hand in terms of getting the young shot stopper as he knows the manager and his way of playing.
Sunderland fans… Would you like to see Sam Johnstone at the Stadium of Light next season? Let us know your thoughts!