Sunderland Transfers: 10 Players Derek McInnes Could Bring With Him
2. Jeremain Lens
Derek McInnes would find himself in an advantageous position should he show an interest in Jeremain Lens, in that the Dutch winger is still miraculously on Sunderland's books.
Lens signed for trusted confidante Dick Advocaat during the Netherlands Manager's brief stint at the club, but was frozen out of plans at the Stadium of Light months later following a breakdown in relations with his replacement Sam Allardyce.
Angrily noting his unhappiness with the Black Cats at the time, Lens commented that he 'did not come to the Premier League to sit on the bench', and was loaned out to Fenerbache, where he contributed five goals in 33 appearances and helped guide the Turkish giants into a third place finish in the ultra-competitive Super Lig.
The Holland International is contracted at Sunderland for two more years, which offers McInnes a fabulous opportunity to rebuild bridges and utilise Lens' continental and creative style in the club's promotion push.
Flashes of his potential were shown during his limited Premier League displays, but the broader lack of quality in the Championship as whole would suggest that he could adapt to life in the second tier fairly well.