Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris (R) and Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris (R) and Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman
Sunderland are still working hard behind the scenes for what is a huge summer transfer window at the Stadium of Light ahead of their return to the Premier League.
The Black Cats won promotion back to the top flight with a 2-1 win over Sheffield United, ending their eight-year absence from English football's top table. Regis Le Bris did a brilliant job in steering the Wearsiders to promotion and his pragmatism should stand the club in good stead moving forward.
However, all those involved with the club know they need major investment if they want to avoid relegation back to the second tier. No club that has won promotion in the last two seasons has been able to avoid the drop the following year.
ChronicleLive has taken a look at Sunderland's immediate summer transfer plans and long-term ambitions.
Sunderland set for shrewd transfer appointment
Sunderland are closing in on the appointment of former RC Lens and AS Roma sporting director Florent Ghisolfi for the role of director of football, working alongside current sporting director Kristjaan Speakman.
The French transfer chief is highly regarded for his work in his home country and is someone Regis Le Bris knows well from their time together at Lorient. Ghisolfi was wanted by a number of European and Saudi Arabian clubs, but the Wearsiders look to have won the race for his signature.
Though yet to be confirmed, if the club are able to get the deal over the line, it'll be a shrewd appointment having unearthed a number of gems throughout his short sporting director career.
Sunderland know they won't have the finances to compete with the Premier League's established clubs and will have to unearth a number of hidden gems - which they've done so well since Kyril Louis-Dreyfus' took over the club.
It was during his time at RC Lens that Ghisolfi unearthed new Spurs defender Kevin Danso for a fee in the region of £4.2m before the French club sold him to Spurs in excess of £20million in January. He also bought new Sunderland signing Enzo Le Fee as one of his first signings for AS Roma last summer.
The French transfer chief has all the attributes to help Sunderland consolidate in the top flight and kick on from thereon out.
Sunderland are close to appointing Roma's former sporting director Florent Ghisolfi (L) as director of football at the Stadium of Light.
£200m transfer spend amid PSR warning
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire believes Sunderland could spend £200million in the current summer transfer window should they wish to do so, but warned the club of a £61m PSR warning.
"The sides promoted, they're having to operate to a certain extent with one hand tied behind their back because the established Premier League teams can lose £105million, but Sunderland, for example, can only lose £61million because you're restricted if you've just been promoted," Maguire told talkSPORT.
"So it is more difficult. Sunderland can spend a lot of money. They could drop £200million, but that's assuming they've got it in their bank account to spend. Leeds are probably a wee bit less, £100million to £150million, and Burnley could certainly spend well in excess of £100million as well.
"So for PSR reasons, they can spend. That's one thing. It's a bit like having a credit card limit. It doesn't necessarily mean that spending to your limits is a good thing."
The football finance expert would go on to explain how Premier League PSR works for newly promoted sides in comparison to life in the Championship.
"The way that the system works is that you're assessed over your last three years," he added. "So if your last three years have been in the Premier League, every year in the Premier League, you can lose £35million.
"So if you've got a club like Wolves or Palace or Brighton, they've been in the Premier League a few years, they can lose £105million. If you've just been promoted from the Championship, you get £35million allowable loss for your first season in the Premier League.
"But each season that you've been in the Championship, you can only lose £13million. So, if we take a look at Sunderland, they've been promoted from League One through to the Championship.
"Now they're in the Premier League, £35million plus two x £13million means that they've got a £61million, Leeds have got a £61 million and Burnley, because they've had two years in the Premier League, they can lose £83million."
Transfer focus and European U21s Championship scouting mission
Chronicle Live understands that Sunderland are looking to bolster their options at full-back and on the wings ahead of their return to the top flight. They naturally need a replacement for Tommy Watson who has joined Brighton, while they also need a replacement for Jobe Bellingham in the heart of midfield.
Kristjaan Speakman has spent the last few weeks negotiating with prospective transfer targets and is all too aware of the need for Premier League experience to complement the promising youngsters already at the club.
The Wearsiders have already been able to secure over £40million from the two aforementioned departures and have a healthy transfer pot to dip into.
Mike McGrath, of the Telegraph, claims Sunderland have been looking at Denmark U21 midfielder Clement Bischoff while at the European U21s Championship this summer.
The Black Cats' recruitment strategy has seen them sign upcoming young talents who they can help develop and sign for profit while also improving their first team. Brighton have previously held talks with his parent club Brøndby regarding a potential transfer.
At 19 years old, he's already made 31 senior appearances at left-back and in midfield. Sunderland have also been linked with Ukrainian striker Vladyslav Vanat, who scored 17 goals for Dynamo Kyiv last season.
The Express claims his current club are holding out for a fee of £20million and do not want to lose their key striker before their Champions League campaign. Vanat is another who has been in action during the U21s championship.