Vito Mannone: 'Sunderland must keep players this summer'

Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone has urged the club to keep hold of as many players as possible this summer.

A number of loanees who helped to keep the team in the Premier League last season are due to return to their parent clubs in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Sebastian Larsson, Jack Colback and Phil Bardsley are among those who are heading towards the end of their respective contracts at the Stadium of Light.

"I hope that we can keep as many bodies together as possible," Mannone is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News. "If it was up to me, we would keep as many of this season's players as we can, and then go from there.

"We can add some more quality players, and I am sure the gaffer will be looking at that. But it is going to be difficult because we could find ourselves losing some important people and that would be a real shame. I hope it doesn't happen."

Mannone, who joined Sunderland from Arsenal in July 2013, has one year remaining on his current contract in the North-East.