Sunderland right-back Adam Matthews will only be offered a new contract with the club if they win promotion this season, according to the Chronicle. 

The 27-year-old's current deal is set to expire at the end of the season but due to the club's aim of cutting back on large wages, he will not be retained unless promotion is achieved.

During a Q and A, Chronicle journalist Craig John wrote: "High earners like Lee Cattermole and Bryan Oviedo would simply have to go, while bigger earners like Adam Matthews (out of contract in the summer) wouldn’t get new deals either."

Matthews made the move to the Stadium of Light from Celtic back in the summer of 2015, going on to make 60 appearances for the club.

He was sent out on loan to Bristol City during the 2016/17 campaign but was a regular in the Championship last season and has appeared 17 times in League One so far under Jack Ross.

Ross's side currently sit in fourth place in the third tier with 28 matches played, nine points behind league-leaders Luton Town but with three games in hand on the Hatters.

The verdict 

This is very sensible from the powers that be at Sunderland.

If they are going to be self-sufficient, as Stewart Donald wants, then they need to make tricky decisions like this one.

It is almost unlucky for the right-back. He has played well for the Black Cats this season but because he signed in that spell of reckless spending he will now have to go.