The Summer transfer window of 2025 is probably the best transfer window the club have ever experienced. Starting with Tommy Watson’s last gasp Championship Play Off Final winner to when the window closed following the arrival of Bertrand Traore, the club’s transfer team strengthened in every area, brought in experience, more pace and physicality and arguably replaced the outgoing players, particularly Jobe Bellingham and Watson, with upgrades.
In the end, 15 first teams players were brought in, 13 on permanent deals, with another two arriving on loan - although one of those loans has already returned to his parent club.
Although that’s an awful lot of new signings, it is nothing compared to the number of players who were linked with the club during the summer, a whopping total of 168, or 153 players that did not end up signing with the club!
From those though, where did those successful links come from, who made up the most rumours and does anyone have a good hit rate? Let’s take a look.
All of these links should be the first time a player was linked to the club this summer and not a journalist or media outlet claiming the transfer is close, later in the chain.
Enzo Le Fee - @MatteMoretto
On January 5th, Matteo Moretto would claim that Sunderland had made an enquiry for Roma midfielder Enzo Le Fee, an ‘explicit request’ from head coach Regis Le Bris. That would prove to be correct and Le Fee would sign on loan on January 10th, with his contract becoming permanent on July 1st following our promotion to the Premier League.
Habib Diarra - @GraemeBailey of TBR Football
On June 11th, the day after Diarra had scored against England, Bailey wrote that Leeds United, Fulham, Bournemouth and Sunderand were all looking at the Senegalese international. Diarra would be unveiled as Sunderland’s record signing on July 1st.
Noah Sadiki - @FabrizioRomano
With interest in Sadiki high and expectations he would end up at Leeds United, Fabrizio Romano revealed an exclusive on July 2nd saying Sunderland had agreed a deal for Sadiki, with the medical already complete. Sadiki would be officially confirmed as a Sunderland player two days later.
Reinildo Mandava - @RyanTaylorSport of the Daily Mirror
On June 11th, Ryan Taylor claimed that Sunderland and Leeds United were the latest clubs to show interest in soon-to-be free agent Reinildo, who was on club duty with Atletico Madrid at the Club World Cup. He would be announced by Sunderland on July 8th.
Chemsdine Talbi - @SachaTavolieri
On July 5th, Sacha Tavolieri would say that Sunderland were pushing for the signing of Talbi, with talks underway on a €20m deal. Talbi’s arrival would be confirmed on July 9th.
Simon Adingra - Graeme Bailey
On July 9th, while reporting on Talbi’s arrival on Sky Sports News, Keith Downie would claim that we had a mystery player who was set to be announced by the club imminently. Graeme Bailey would then reveal that the player was the Brighton winger. Adingra would be announced the following day.
Granit Xhaka - @SachaTavolieri
On July 15th, Sacha Tavolieri would make the claim that Sunderland had entered the race for Bayer Leverkusen’s Granit Xhaka. His move would be completed on July 30th.
Robin Roefs - David Ornstein of The Athletic
Early On July 30th, David Ornstein stated that Sunderland had reached an agreement with NEC Nijmegen for Roefs, with the goalkeeper having a medical that day. He would be officially unveiled on August 1st.
Marc Guiu - Sport
On July 30th, Spanish newspaper Sport would say that Guiu was close to defining his future, with both Sunderland and RB Leipzig being frontrunners and and Real Sociedad and Roma also showing interest. Sunderland would sign the Spanish striker on August 6th but he wouldn’t last until the deadline before being recalled by his parent club.
Arthur Masuaku - Sercan Dikme of HT Spor and Doğan Gündoğdu of Sözcü Gazetesi
On August 8th, Sercan Dikme claimed that the then free agent Masuaku was about to reach an agreement with an unnamed Premier League club, which was quickly followed by Doğan Gündoğdu giving a cryptic hint “*You’re returning to the league you played in before coming to Türkiye. Your first match in that league is against your old team there. Nice story.*“, that would end up being Masuaku and Sunderland, with West Ham United first up in our Premier League return. Masuaku would be unveiled a couple of days after being linked.
Omar Alderete - @LucaBendoni of Sky Sport Italia
Also on the 8th of August, Sky Sport Italia reported Luca Bendoni said that Alderete was set for a Premier League move, with Sunderland and Crystal Palace keen on the defender, who had also been proposed to Bournemouth. Sunderland would complete his signing four days later.
Nordi Mukiele - @FabriceHawkins of RMC Sport
Fabrice Hawkins had an exclusive on August 15th, claiming Sunderland had reached an agreement in principle with Paris Saint Germain and Nordi had permission to travel to the North East. The signing would be made official two days later.
Lutsharel Geertruida - @Santi_J_FM of FootMercato
Just one day before deadline day, Santi Aouna said that Marseille had reached a contractual agreement with the Dutch defender and were working on a loan deal but should be wary as ‘Sunderland had entered the fray and were trying to snatch the prize’. That would prove to be true, with Sunderland unveiling the player on Deadline Day.
Brian Brobbey - Algemeen Dagblad
On August 18th, Dutch newspaper AD claimed Sunderland were ‘seriously considering’ the Ajax striker, along with Roma and Stuttgart but Stade Rennais’ interest was the main focus of the article. Sunderland would wrap up his signing on Deadline Day.
Bertrand Traore - @SkySportsKeith
Late on Deadline Day, Keith Downie suggested Sunderland had explored a move for the Ajax winger before ultimately deciding against pursuing him but within a few hours the player was officially announced.
Now for the unsuccessful links, of which there are many. So these will be posted with the name of the player and the link in question, without commentary, but following the list I’ll give a tally of any that linked us to more than three players - and the ones who do that fall into two distinct categories.
Amad Diallo - 225foot
Alex Freeman - @McGrathMike
Otar Kiteishvili - LaOla1.at
Luis Malagon - Nacion Futbol
Julian Quinones - Nacion Futbol
Modibo Sagnan - Midi Libre
Jordan Henderson - Talksport
Vladyslav Vanat - TaToTake (YouTube)
Wilfried Singo - Print Edition of the Daily Mirror (via the Sunderland Echo)
Kwame Poku - Give Me Sport
Lucas Stassin - Made In Saint Etienne
Lennon Miller - Rob Currell
Jamie Vardy - Northern Echo
Cedric Kipre - Africa Foot
Quentin Merlin - Le 10 Sport
Jayden Danns - Northern Echo
Matija Frigan - Voetbal Primeur
Joe Gomez - Empire of the Kop
Tommy Doyle - TeamTalk
Christantus Uche - Ekrem Konur
Max Johnston - Ekrem Konur
Oscar Bobb - Esteemed Kompany
Japhet Tanganga - Give Me Sport
Demarai Gray - Give Me Sport
Charlie Gray - Alan NixonHarry Toffolo - Alan Nixon
Azzedine Ounahi - Mounta Khab
Jonas Adjetey - Futbol In Al Minut
Mathis Abline - Sacha Tavolieri
Keita Kosugi - On The Minute
Teden Mengi - EFL Analysis
Alex Moreno - Fichajes.com
Borja Sainz - Sports Boom
Vladimir Coufal - Football Insider
Michael Cooper - Sports Boom
Djue Caleta-Car - FootMercato
Cameron Carter-Vickers - 67 Hail Hail
Ishe Samuels-Smith - TeamTalk
Armand Lauriente - AS Roma Live
Charlie Cresswell - Jeunes Footeux
Sam Johnstone - Alan Nixon
Jhon Duran - YS Scores
Isaac Price - Sports Boom
Sam Greenwood - Daily Mail
Raheem Sterling - Mackem News
Nicolo Zaniolo - Tutto Mercato Web
Saba Goglichidze - On The Minute
Clement Bischoff - @McGrathMike
Edvin Austbo - On The Minute
Kieran Morrison - This Is Anfield
Habib Keita - On The Minute
Moussa Baradji - Africa Foot
Mario Pasalic - Sports Boom
Axel Disasi - Sports Boom
Josh DaSilva - Sports Boom
Christopher Baah Bonsu - GBC Ghana Online
Angelino - @GLongari
Giorgi Chakvetadze - Sports Boom
Marcin Bulka - Fabrizio Romano
Mahdi Camara - Foot En France
Jerónimo Dómina - Palo & Gol
Mattéo Guendouzi - RMC Sport
Sambou Soumano - Football Insider
Gonzalo Garcia - Fichajes.net
Hamed Traore - Corriere Dello Sport
Arthur Avom - Foot En France
Victor Kristiansen - Gianluca Di Marzio
Tiago Djalò - Tuttosport
Yarek Gasiorowski - Fichajes.net
Luis Suarez - @JosGmezPrez5
Abdoulaye Doucoure - Football Insider
Georges Mikautadze - Foot Mercato
Bobby Clark - @daveockop
Dominic Calvert Lewin - Sports Boom
Hayden Hackney - EFL Analysis
Jack Moorehouse - Bet You IE
Rhian Brewster - Sports Boom
Kyle Walker Peters - Sportscasting
Dorde Petrovic - Sacha Tavolieri
Melvin Bard - Fabrice Hawkins
Guela Doue - @MatteMoretto
Sacha Boey - Suleyman Rodop
Diego Luna - Sky City FC
Julio Enciso - Cimbom Parcali
Lucas Perri - The Guardian
Neil El Aynaoui - Foot Mercato
Nayef Aguerd - Foot Mercato
Matthew Orr - Belfast Telegraph
Dominik Livakovic - AS Marca
Jeremie Boga - 7ette De Coppe
Kerem Aktürkoğlu - Kutlu Akpinar
Sael Kumbedi - Jeunes Footeux
Evann Guessand - FF TV
John McGinn - Sports Boom
Valentin Rongier - Le Equipe
Aaron Ramsdale - Ben Jacobs
Victor Tsygankov - Sports Arena
Senne Lammens - Voetbal Nieuws
Salvatore Esposito - TBR Football
Bafode Diakite - Le Petit Lillois
Sindre Walle Egeli - On The Minute
Amir Richardson - Fiorentina Uno
Bilal El Khannouss - Le Equipe
Jhon Lucumí - Gianluca Di Marzio
Franceso Acerbi - FC Inter News
Reiss Nelson - Arsenal Core
Frank Zambo-Anguissa - Fabrizio Romano
Igor Julio - Diario Vasco
Chuba Akpom - Sportscasting
Jack Sykes - EFL Analysis
Diego Carlos - En Son Haber
Loic Bade - El Chiringuito
Ramiz Zerrouki - Africa Soccer
Patrick Bamford - Sports Boom
Aleksander Mitrovic - Saudi On Portal
Chancel Mbemba - YouTube
Igor Paixao - Score.fr
Isaac Romero - Sevilla Actualidad
Lorenzo Pirola - Foot Italia
Gabriel Sara - @giocaregala
Dmytro Riznyk - Fabrizio Romano
Idrissa Gueye - Football Insider
Suaibo Jassi - On The Minute
Pietro Comuzzo - Tutto Mercato Web
Matias Siltanen - On The Minute
Baris Yilmaz - Sabah
Amine Adli - @LaurensJulien
Gabriel Jesus - Indy Kalia
Deivid Washington - Daily Mail
Luis Openda - Florian Plettenberg
Julian Ryerson - Sky Sport DE
Almamy Toure - Africa Foot
Mehdi Taremi - nefes.com
Lloyd Kelly - Juventus News 24
Cesar Tarrega - Plaza Deportivo
Matt O’Riley - Tuttosport
Artem Dovbyk - Nico Shira
Eddy Kouadio - La Viola
Gabriel Pereira - TeamTalk
Harry Winks - On The Minute
Abdul Fatawu - Edu Burgos
Adam Daghim - Nizaar Kinsella
Jonathon Rowe - RMC Sport
Riccardo Orsolini - Markaj News
Kenneth Taylor - On The Minute
Alex Disasi - RMC Sport
Thomas Meunier - Sacha Tavolieri
Viktor Johansson - EFL Analysis
Johan Vasquez - Barracudo
Dario Osorio - Balong (YouTube)
Josh Sargent - Football Insider
Santi Gimenez - @NonEvoluto
Yaser Asprilla - @PSierraR
Obviously when you look at some of the players linked by each of the journalist or websites above, you can see a distinct pattern emerging where some of them are players we had genuine interest in (Marcin Bulka or Jhon Lucumi) and some of them are a little less genuine…
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