IT'S a hugely important summer on Wearside and once the new head coach is in place, attention must immediately turn to the transfer window.

So what are the priorities at the Stadium of Light this summer? What do the Black Cats need and who could go? And what would a successful window look like?

WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES IN THE SUMMER TRANSFER WINDOW?

Such is the position Sunderland find themselves in, despite the fact the summer window opened last Friday, there's been very little transfer talk on Wearside, with the glare very much focused on the dugout.

Sunderland's recruitment team obviously have an idea of what and who they want but plans can't be signed off until the new head coach is in place.

Regardless of who it is who takes charge, everyone will be in agreement that a striker is a must this summer. The Black Cats simply can't afford another failed window when it comes to bolstering their frontline. And ideally, unlike last summer, they need a striker who's ready to come in and hit the ground running.

Depending on what is decided to be the best course of action for Hemir and Eliezer Mayenda, Sunderland might yet need two strikers this summer.

A holding midfielder is needed to free up Dan Neil and Pierre Ekwah, especially with Corry Evans allowed to leave after his contract expired. A decision is still to be made on Callum Styles.

If, as is widely expected, Jack Clarke was to move on, another wide attacker would surely need to be on Sunderland's wishlist.

Another priority this summer is experience. As Mike Dodds said, that doesn't have to be players who are 30+, rather players who have racked up a couple of hundred games at Championship level or similar.

WHO COULD LEAVE?

Clarke is the obvious place to start here. With two years left on his current contract and no suggestions an extension will be agreed, this has always felt like the most likely window for the former Leeds and Tottenham winger to depart.

He won't be short of suitors on the back of his excellent campaign last time out.

Because of the lingering managerial uncertainty, there are also fresh question marks surrounding other key players.

Chris Rigg wants to hold talks with the new head coach before deciding whether he puts pen to paper on his first professional contract at the Stadium of Light.

And Dan Neil is also stalling on contract talks while there's no clarity on who the next head coach will be. Neil still has two years left to run on his deal and Sunderland are relaxed about the situation as things stand.

The Black Cats have a host of players who are on the radar of Premier League clubs. Anthony Patterson, Dan Ballard and Trai Hume have all interested top flight clubs at one stage or another but there's no suggestion at this stage any of those will move on.

In terms of fringe players, Alex Bass and Joe Anderson were out on loan last season and could be allowed to leave permanently. Sunderland must decide the next best step for Jewison Bennette, Hemir and Mayenda. And they could have decisions to make on Elliot Embleton and Jay Matete, who have both had rotten luck with injuries.

WHAT'S BEEN SAID?

That's been half the problem with Sunderland this summer, there hasn't been much said at all.

It was left to interim boss Dodds to do the talking in the final months of the campaign and back in April he updated on transfer planning.

He said: “We've had our first round of meetings in terms of recruitment and also in terms of what's been positive and not so positive.

“That's the preliminary rounds that we've done, there were no individuals discussed within that but you discuss squad composition, areas of focus for the summer and all those kinds of things.

"I know there's another set of meetings due for the last week of the season and then three or four set up for the post-season in terms of recruitment, and more beyond that.

"Obviously whoever the new head coach is will be updated on the meetings that have happened and will then have an influence on comings and goings from there. So we've had our first meetings if that makes sense in terms of reflections of this year's recruitment and the things that need to be addressed from the start of next season.”

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CAN WE EXPECT ANY SURPRISES?

Given the way Sunderland operate in the transfer market, left field arrivals are inevitable.

But there must, you'd think, be an acknowledgement after the way last season played out that there's a crucial need for balance this summer. Dodds certainly felt so and will have no doubt fed that back to the club's hierarchy in the recruitment meetings discussed above.

Given their previous struggles, would it be more of a surprise if Sunderland did manage to land a ready-made No.9 or didn't?

WHAT WOULD A SUCCESSFUL WINDOW LOOK LIKE?

First of all, a head coach appointment needs to be made as soon as possible. From there, the squad and plans can start to take shape.

Sunderland are already playing catch-up and, given the understandable anger in the fanbase, simply can't afford to make a slow start next season.

"The appointment of the head coach is going to be a marker," said Dodds, at the end of the season.

And it will hopefully be followed by some swift further business.

Sunderland must strengthen their attack this summer with a striker and a midfielder feels almost equally as important.

Just as crucial, though, is what happens with influential players already at the club. It might well be the right time for Clarke to move on - but only if a deal is struck that suits - but it would be hugely damaging if more than one star departed.

Chris Rigg signing pro terms would be a huge statement.