TONY Mowbray anticipates some Sunderland exits between now and the end of the transfer window, with the Black Cats "not pushing players out of the door" but conscious of the need to trade as they look to strengthen certain areas of the squad.

Sunderland are targeting a busy end to the window, with a striker and a midfielder at the top of the club's transfer wishlist and the club weighing up their options in other areas such as on the flanks, with Isaac Lihadji set to leave.

But as the Wearsiders continue their efforts to "remould" certain departments in the squad, Mowbray accepts that exits are also very possible.

"I think there's a chance but I don't know the answer to where or how that will happen, but I do think there's a chance," said Mowbray when quizzed on possible departures between now and the September 1 deadline.

"I do think we could probably utilise salary for different positions on the pitch if we're trying to remould. But it's very difficult to talk about things like that because the phone has to ring.

"We're not out there pushing our players out the door. If the phone rings and it's right for the club and we feel pretty strong in one position but we're a bit empty in another, we might feel it's the right thing to move him out and use that salary or to sell him and use the money to fill this one. That's what football clubs have to do and footballers understand that.

"And it might work out best for them. They might go somewhere else and get a better salary and then they get what they want and we got what we want with a player in a different position who helps with our squad and the balance of it."

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Mowbray added: "Let's see how the next few weeks rolls by before the window shuts at the end of August. But I'd be pretty sure there'll be some movement around our squad in the next few weeks."

What Mowbray doesn't want is to lose any of his key first team stars. Burnley have made bids for Jack Clarke this summer but the Black Cats have so far stood firm, while Ross Stewart's long-term future remains uncertain as he moves into the final 12 months of his contract.

Dan Ballard was linked with West Ham early in the summer but that's gone quiet. Fellow centre-half Danny Batth, meanwhile, emerged as a target for Blackburn.