The Black Cats sporting director has been discussing Sunderland's summer transfer business
Sunderland Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman
Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has revealed the Black Cats are still targeting several more additions to their squad this summer ahead of the Premier League curtain raiser.
The Wearsiders have added Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, Reinildo Mandava, Chemsdine Talbi and Simon Adingra to their ranks ahead of their pre-season double-header against Gateshead and South Shields.
The club remain hopeful of bringing in more targets, while also moving a number of fringe players on this summer, prior to the transfer window closing.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Sunderland sporting director said: "We're not naive to the challenge. I think we have to be really clear, our mindset is that Sunderland needs to be back where it's always been.
"It's always been, on aggregate, around ninth place in the Premier League. It's top tier and that's the challenge, to reestablish the club back there and we're on a journey to doing that.
"The first part is being able to stay in the league. I'm really proud of some of the boys who have been with us since the start, since I got here and Kyril [Louis-Dreyfus] purchased the club.
"We've had loads of people who have joined on the way and chosen to come to us rather than going elsewhere. We've obviously got some more recent examples in the last few days of that happening.
"Players want to play with good players. They want the challenge. They want a competitive squad and they want good people in the squad.
"Last season, I think everybody could see from the outside that we have a really united group and really passionate group about playing for Sunderland, which is what supporters want to see."
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris (R) and Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris (R) and Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman
The Black Cats have spent in the region of £100 million ahead of their return to the top flight, with all eyes on what they'll do next.
"We've still got several more players that we need to acquire in certain areas of the pitch," Speakman added. "I'll leave that a little bit loose for you but we have to try to find the right players.
"We've never been knee-jerk in our decision making. We'll try to be calm, but it's the balance of being calm, waiting and trying to find [players]. Also knowing that you've got the right ones and being decisive.
"Momentum is important. We want to make sure we can start well. We knew that we had three or four players that we felt were the right ones and we've tried to do them.
"I think that just shows the ambition of the ownership and the direction of the club."