The Black Cats issued their retained list earlier this week, with none of their senior players set to become free agents at the end of this month.
However, both Neil and Cirkin will enter the final 12 months of their current deal in less than four weeks’ time, creating a sense of urgency around their contractual position.
Neil’s situation is the most pressing, with the midfielder the subject of considerable transfer interest already this summer. Italian side Roma have expressed their interest in securing Neil’s services this summer, and are understood to be lining up a formal £15 offer for the Black Cats skipper, who has previously been linked with Everton and West Ham.
Cirkin has also been the subject of transfer talk in the past, and Sunderland would not want to lose either player this summer.
At the same time, though, the club can ill afford to allow either player to leave for nothing as a free agent in 12 months’ time, so this summer’s planned contract talks will have a major influence on the duo’s long-term future.
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“We do a contract review right across the group at the end of every season,” said sporting director Kristjaan Speakman. “I think we’re in a strong position with the majority of the group this time around, especially with a lot of the players who have performed at a really high level.
“There are a couple there (Neil and Cirkin) whose contracts are reducing and we need to have a conversation around that and that will happen in the coming weeks. That’s part of trying to build the squad for next season.”
It remains to be seen what Sunderland will do if either Neil or Cirkin indicate they are unwilling to sign a new deal. The Black Cats initially held on to Jack Clarke when the winger suggested he was willing to run down his contract without signing new terms, but eventually relented and sold the winger to Ipswich Town last summer shortly after he had entered his final year as a Sunderland player.
“We don’t have anyone out of contract this summer, and so that means there isn’t an immediate issue for us,” added Speakman. “We have a little bit of time to reflect. As I always say, it’s got to be the right opportunity for the players and for us.”
