Let's face it, it's been coming for a while. Sunderland have finally been relegated to the Championship after 10 years in the Premier League.

The Black Cats have managed great escape after great escape to stave off relegation from the top flight for years now, but after a considerable lack of investment in the squad they finished bottom this season and will play Championship football in 2017/18.

David Moyes has left his role as manager leaving the club in the hunt for his replacement. They have been rejected by numerous candidates so far, perhaps indicative of the clubs position.

The squad needs a lot of surgery, especially given that star man Jermaine Defoe looks set to depart back to the Premier League, with Bournemouth potential buyers.

There also seems to be a lack of cash around the club, meaning whomever is destined to replace Moyes will have to be shrewd with their signings.

Here is a highly altered Sunderland eleven that could make their way back up to the Premier League.

Goalkeeper: Adam Federici

The arrival of Asmir Begovic at Bournemouth pushes Adam Federici even further down the pecking order. Begovic will likely replace Artur Boruc as the club's number one, leaving Federici third choice.

The Australian is coming to the peak years of his career, and will be hoping to play as much football as possible.

Sunderland should look his way to replace outgoing Jordan Pickford. Federici's stunning form during his last season at Reading won him player of the season - and for good reason.

He's an awesome short stopper and has some of the best distribution skills in the Championship. He wouldn't cost very much, and would be a fine signing for Sunderland.

Right back: Billy Jones

Whilst his poor performances in the Premier League contributed to Sunderland having one of the league's lamest defences, Billy Jones seems like a player who would do a solid job in the Championship.

The 30-year-old rejected a new contract with West Brom and joined Sunderland in the summer of 2014 on a free transfer, and has been their starting right-back ever since.

Jones would be a solid Championship player and, while most of Sunderland's defence needs reshaping, he can be a figure of experience and consistency at the back.

Centre back: Tomas Kalas

Sunderland are dangerously short of centre-halves, especially after releasing Joleon Lescott, and John O'Shea following the conclusion of last season.

They are also likely to lose Papy Djilobodji and Lamine Kone, leaving them desperate to pick up some central defenders this summer.

Fulham loanee Tomas Kalas enjoyed an extremely impressive season in the Championship and will return to Chelsea this summer.

The 24-year-old is too old to be described by the Blues as a young prospect anymore, and will likely leave on a permanent basis this summer for a nominal fee. Sunderland should doubtlessly take advantage of this and bring him in.

Centre back: Lasse Sobiech

Huddersfield have set a bit of a trend in bringing in the best of the Bundesliga II's best players, one which Sunderland should look to follow, as Norwich City appear to have done.

Lasse Sobiech plays at St Pauli in Germany's second division and was statistically the best player in the league last season, featuring in the team of the season.

The towing centre half would be a strong addition to Sunderland's back line, and given the relative ease at which Huddersfield (a club with limited financial resources) managed to bring in players from the same league last year, this should not cost the Black Cats a great deal.

Left back: Tyrone Mings

It's fair to say Tyrone Mings' move to Bournemouth hasn't quite worked out, mainly due to a brutal injury he suffered early on in his Cherries career that sidelined him for a year.

Now fit again, he only made seven appearances for the club last year, and Sunderland would be wise to attempt a move, whether on loan or permanently.

Mings should just how good he can be in the Championship during his final season at Ipswich in 2014/15, and a move back down to this level could be the boost he needs to reignite his career.

Defensive midfield: Lee Cattermole

A hero on Wearside, there's a strong sense that Lee Cattermole will come into his element in the Championship last season, and could be the man to captain the club back to the top flight.

He was blighted with injury last season and spent four months on the sidelines, and found himself unable to find his way back into the first eleven consistently afterwards.

Cattermole would be a fine player at Championship level, and winning promotion with the club could seal his place in Black Cats folklore.

Central midfield: Didier Ndong

Sunderland's record signing was distinctly average last season and did little to help them beat relegation. However, the 23-year-old could use the Championship as a launchpad to became a fine Premier League player.

The stats show he was one of the Premier League's best tacklers last season, winning the ball 83 times ranking him 14th in the division.

He was also the most accurate passer in the Black Cats squad last season (out of those who made more than 2 appearances) and he could easily become a formidable Championship midfielder.

Central midfield: Felix Kroos

Yes, you're right, that IS the brother of Real Madrid's Toni Kroos, and while Toni is making waves on the European stage by winning the Champions League, Felix has been making waves in Germany's second tier.

He finished fourth in the Bundesliga II this season with Union Berlin and has been a first class player in their midfield, netting twice and making four assists.

Sunderland should take a punt on Kroos following his excellent form and take him to England, where he will hope to become as big a name as his brother.

Right wing: Tom Lawrence

Lawrence has had an incredible season and was the shining light in Ipswich Town's campaign, leading to plenty of interest in him this summer.

His future at Leicester City does not look bright and it seems almost certain that he'll leave this summer for a small fee, and Sunderland should look to take advantage.

The Welshman managed nine goals and nine assists in the Championship last year and would be a fine addition to their ranks, providing a goalscoring threat from out wide.

Left wing: Bakary Sako

The Crystal Palace winger is completely out of the first team picture at the Premier League side and will likely be part of the clear out at the club this summer.

The winger was prolific during his last season in the Championship netting 15 goals for Wolverhampton Wanderers from out wide and would offer the Black Cats an extra goalscoring threat.

Sako wouldn't cost an awful lot of money and would be an affordable option for Sunderland. If they're running on a budget, this would be a smart addition.

Striker: Connor Wickham

Sunderland should certainly look towards a romantic return for Connor Wickham, another who is completely out of the first team picture at Crystal Palace.

The 23-year-old only scored 11 goals in the Premier League whilst at the Stadium of Light, but did show decent form whilst on loan in the Championship, scoring 8 times in 11 appearances in 2013/14.

Palace have an abundance of strikers and could easily dispose of Wickham, who you would imagine would cost less than most forwards on the market these days.

Sunderland fans... What do you make of this? Is this a realistic eleven? Let us know in the comments below.