Aiden McGeady's dazzling footwork was once again not enough to get Sunderland back into the Championship, but he is still yet to sign a new deal on Wearside and former Newcastle United defender Steve Howey believes the winger will be holding out for more money from the club.

During the second half of last season, the Black Cats were eventually taken over by Kyril Louis-Dreyfus who became the youngest owner in English football, and with a lot of financial power himself and in his family, Sunderland could splash the cash this summer.

McGeady was shunned out of the first-team picture during the first half of the season under former boss, Phil Parkinson, however Lee Johnson brought him straight back in and despite playing just 24 league games he managed to top the assist chart with 16 and get into the WhoScored team of the season with a 7.4 rating.

It would be a huge blow for Sunderland to lose McGeady although it could be for the best to move him on if he is holding out for more money because the club has new owners - something Howey spoke exclusively to Transfer Tavern about:

"He might be holding out for more money or he could be a little bit annoyed with how he was treated because he was exiled a little bit earlier but ultimately, that wasn't under the manager who is there now.

"He made the League One Team of the Season this year, so even though the club is not basking in money, they do have new owners and he could want them to pay him more."

There is no doubting McGeady's qualities on the ball as he is carried Sunderland numerous times to victory or back into games, however at 35-years-old he may now see this as his final big payday before retiring or returning back to Ireland.

Another contract rebel is Charlie Wyke, who is also set to become a free agent later this summer unless he decides to sign the new deal that is on the table for him but after scoring 25 goals in League One he may want to test himself in the Championship.