Sunderland's preparations for the new Championship season will be well underway behind the scenes despite not having a new , ensuring they improve on quite an underwhelming end to their campaign.

The Black Cats ended the 2023/24 term in 16th place, as off-field issues overshadowed performances on the pitch, with the North East club still yet to employ a new manager following the sacking of Michael Beale in February.

While talks will be progressing for a new man to take the helm, progression will be being made on potential incomings and outgoings at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland have three players out of contract heading into the summer, with decisions yet to be made on their futures. However, the club may decide to part ways with a player who only joined two years ago having arrived with optimism and excitement among supporters.

Jewison Bennette has flattered to deceive at Sunderland

The transfer window ahead of the 2022/23 season saw the Black Cats bring in an array of talented players to the Stadium of Light as part of a new transfer strategy under Kyril Louis-Dreyfus.

Jack Clarke, Dan Ballard and Abdoullah Ba were just a few of the names who arrived in the summer, providing attacking flair and midfield stability to a team that was pushing for a return to the Premier League.

One of those arrivals included 18-year-old, Jewison Bennette, who joined the club from Costa Rican side, Herediano, with many excited about the capture of the young winger.

Bennette came to the club with a surprisingly good international pedigree despite his age, having earned six senior caps for his country. He also played a huge role in Los Ticos' participation in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, providing the assist for Joel Campbell to send his nation to Qatar in November last year.

He had also become the youngest-ever player to represent his nation at 17 years and two months, coming on as a substitute against El Salvador in August 2021.

Many Sunderland fans were excited by the signing, and got their first glimpse of Bennette in an eight-minute cameo appearance against Reading, scoring his first goal for the club in his second appearance in a draw away to Watford.

But the early season form never materialised, with the Costa Rican restricted to just 235 minutes of football in the Championship, making just one start and that came in an FA Cup victory over Shrewsbury in the third round.

Bennette would play more minutes in the Premier League 2 competition at under-21 level and would equip himself well at that level, with the hope of acclimating to a new country for the following season.

However, he would play just nine minutes in the second tier, again making more appearances with the Black Cats' development side, subsequently concluding in a January loan switch to Greek side, Aris Thessaloniki, but has made just two appearances in the Super League Greece and his season has been ended early by injury.

While Sunderland have a number of decisions to make regarding their players at the Stadium of Light, they may have to part company with the 19-year-old just two years into his Sunderland career.

Sunderland should consider cutting ties with Jewison Bennette

Following the Black Cats' season, the evidence is clear that they lack an attacking threat at the top end of the pitch, and need to welcome quality into the side should they maintain their aspirations of returning to the Premier League.

Throughout the season, the club have been over reliant on the goal-scoring exploits of Jack Clarke, finishing the campaign with 15 goals in the Championship, eight ahead of Jobe Bellingham.

When looking at Sunderland's top scorers, the top five are all midfield players, so the top end of the pitch is a major area of the side that needs improving.

The likes of Nazariy Rusyn, Mason Burstow, Bradley Dack and Romaine Mundle have all flattered to deceive this term, scoring just five goals between them.

If Sunderland want to challenge at the top end of the table, they need to address the situation that has hampered them this term, while also ensuring a permanent manager is in place to give them a positive pre-season ahead of the new term.

And given his form during his two years for the Black Cats, it seems likely that Bennette could be moved on, despite showing those glimpses of quality.

It seems unfair to judge a 19-year-old player so early in his career having moved to a new country just two years ago, but if Sunderland are serious about returning to the Premier League, those difficult, yet needed decisions have to be made.