Sunderland are aiming for instant promotion back to the Championship after dropping from the Premier League to League One in two shocking seasons.

The Black Cats finished bottom of the pile in the second tier this season with both Simon Grayson and Chris Coleman failing to lift them to safety.

Now without a manager, Sunderland face an uncertain summer ahead with a number of players expected to leave and this is a vitally important transfer window which they need to get right.

Things need to change at The Stadium of Light.

A new owner is coming in, a new manager will arrive soon and a number of their high earners need to be shipped to make sure that they can bring in players capable of getting them promoted from League One.

Here are three players who Sunderland should bring in to ensure they have every chance of winning promotion back to the Championship at the first time of asking.

With John O'Shea and Marc Wilson becoming free agents and high-earning duo Papy Djilobodji and Lamine Kone likely to be sold, Sunderland desperately need a new centre-back.

Step forward Onuoha, who is a free agent after leaving QPR, and the experienced centre-half could be interested in returning to Sunderland, where he would become one of the best players in the division.

In deciding his next career move, Oztumer should emulate Bradley Dack, who left Gillingham to join a higher League One team in Blackburn Rovers and he has starred for them this season, winning promotion and now he is set for his chance in the Championship.

Rather than make a rash move, the 26-year-old - who has 15 goals and 7 assists in League One this term - should seriously consider moving to Sunderland when he becomes a free agent as he is not keen on renewing his Walsall deal.

Sunderland have two fine young strikers in Joel Asoro and Josh Maja but they need someone with more experience to guide them to promotion - someone like Washington.

The 25-year-old could leave QPR after an average spell there but he is a Northern Ireland international and he knows where the net is at League One level, making him an astute signing for whoever comes in as Sunderland boss.