Luton Town's promotion to the Championship brought the curtain down on a memorable campaign but transfer speculation is already rife just days after the big play-off final. The Hatters beat Sunderland in the semi-final and then edged through a nervy penalty affair against Coventry City to secure the lucrative prize of Premier League football and the riches that come with it.
There's certainly no shame in the Black Cats being beaten by the eventual promotion winners which should act as a catalyst for next season. Tony Mowbray's side surpassed any pre-season expectations and they'll be looking to build on that over the course of the summer.
The young, fearless Sunderland side attracted plenty of plaudits on their way to a top-six finish and it should come as no surprise to see Premier League clubs sit up and take note. Jack Clarke is the latest red and white talent to be linked with a move to the top flight.
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The Wearsiders tied Clarke down to a long-term deal - set to expire in the summer of 2026 - when he signed from Tottenham Hotspur on a permanent deal back in July 2022. Kristjaan Speakman and co hold the ace card in any transfer negotiations this summer, with their long-term plan coming to fruition.
"We've certainly tried to build a squad that has some longevity in it, and I think naturally when you acquire talented players you want to retain those talented players for as long as possible," Speakman told the club's Youtube channel. "Ultimately, there might be an end-date to that whether a contract runs to the end or you sell a player, whatever it might be, but we think we are in a really good spot at the minute.
"We've still got a lot of work to do so we are not complacent in any shape or form, but we feel we have got into a rhythm and a way of working that will hopefully bring some future successes."
Burnley, Crystal Palace and Brentford are said to have submitted bids to sign Clarke from Sunderland this summer - a clear sign if it were needed that the long-term plan at the club is working. Success on the field backed up by interest in players as a result.
However, as has been discussed many times before, there lies a risk-reward factor with this type of club model. As things stand, the club are yet to sell any of their young talent and recoup funds to put back into the club and improve the squad further.
The likes of Brentford did this expertly on their rise to the Premier League, while Brighton have also done a brilliant job in terms of recruiting players and selling them for a large fee. Sunderland may be some way behind both clubs in terms of their current standing, but it's a huge boost to see Premier League clubs interested in players.
The risk comes into play when the Black Cats decide to sell someone of Clarke's ability - tried and tested in the Championship while looking for a more inexperienced youngster. Sunderland already have the ball rolling in that sense.
The likes of Jewison Bennette or Isaac Lihadji have both shown enough promise to suggest they could fill Clarke's boots in the long run. The latter of the duo was the best player in a red and white shirt at under-21s level, even if he did just play a handful of games.
The European Golden Boy nominee oozes talent, which you would like to see given a chance in the Championship next season, regardless of Clarke's long-term future at the club. If the former Leeds and Spurs winger was to depart this summer, you would expect the Wearsiders to get a sizable transfer fee which could be reinvested back into the squad.
Sunderland are hopeful of keeping Clarke at the club this summer, but every player has his price especially when they club is on a journey like the Black Cats.
There are plenty of ifs, buts and maybes - for example, any money generated from a player sale could go into offering Ross Stewart an improved contract at the Stadium of Light. A must for Mowbray's men this summer.
The departure of a key player in the short-term may dampen spirits but if there's continual progression both on and off the pitch, supporters will have very few complaints.
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