Sunderland have had one of the best transfer windows of any promoted club in recent memory, and now Regis Le Bris must choose carefully as to what his best XI is if he is to keep the Wearside outfit in the Premier League.
A total of 14 players have been signed to come into their first-team ahead of what will be a challenging season, but having already won six points from a possible nine, they've given themselves a huge head start in the race to stay up. Here, GIVEMESPORT takes a look at who could be in their side going forward.
Robin Roefs Starts in Goal
AFC Sunderland's Anthony Patterson
This has already thrown up a curveball in terms of position. Anthony Patterson has been Sunderland's first-choice stopper since the start of 2022, only missing five league games in that time - but Roefs joined from Eredivisie side NEC Nijmegen in the summer and has made the first-team spot his own.
The 22-year-old is younger than Patterson, and has made nine appearances for the Netherlands' under-21 squad - and after being called up to the senior team for the current international break, it remains to be seen whether Patterson can break his trajectory and reclaim that first-team spot. But for now, it is the Dutchman's to lose.
Lutsharel Geertruida Comes Straight Into Team
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There have been some incredible additions to Sunderland's backline, boasting European, international and trophy-winning experience throughout.
Geertruida is the best mix of both, being just 25 years of age and already racking up over 236 appearances in club football, with 42 of those being in Europe along with three major honours to show for it.
Dan Ballard is the only player who keeps his place in the XI from last season, with the Northern Ireland international impressing in the second-tier and on his Premier League debut with vital goals, interceptions and more marking him as a solid option for the Black Cats.
He is joined in the middle by the coup signing of Nordi Mukiele, who joined from Paris Saint-Germain after three years of service in Ligue 1, alongside four major honours to his name - and he'll be hoping to make that spot his own over the unfortunate Luke O'Nien, who misses out despite his solid efforts in their rise up the pyramid.
Meanwhile, Dennis Cirkin's lack of experience means that Reinildo, who joined from Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, will take the left-sided slot.
Enzo Le Fee Misses Out in Midfield
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Granit Xhaka will go down as the major acquisition in Sunderland's midfield, but there have been three major incomings into their engine room.
The former Arsenal man rightly takes his spot in the centre, having made 225 appearances in the top-flight alone for the Gunners, and his outstanding campaign to win the domestic double with Bayer Leverkusen means that his arrival really is one of the coups of the summer throughout the league.
Alongside him will be Noah Sadiki, who joins from the Belgian Pro League with his solid defensive work and progressive passing giving Sunderland an array of talent at the age of just 20, and Habib Diarra, a slightly more attacking option who will fashion chances on the counter.
Leaving out Enzo Le Fee and homegrown star Dan Neil is harsh, though the latter will get minutes from the bench and likely some starts once the midfield trio miss out through injury or suspension.
Brian Brobbey Comes Straight Into XI
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Sunderland have brought in an array of attacking talent, and their wingers are solid. However, there are only two options that you'd think will be guaranteed starts.
Chemsdine Talbi will be one of those after massively impressing at Club Brugge earlier last season, and he'll fend off Chris Rigg for minutes on the right, whilst Simon Adingra will feature off the left after moving from Brighton in the summer, having Bertrand Traore as his backup.
The striking spot is slightly more contentious, with Wilson Isidor already scoring twice this season and Eliezer Mayenda having a great six months. However, Brian Brobbey has joined in a mega-money move from Ajax and that sort of fee commands a starting spot at the very least.
Sunderland Strongest XI: Roefs; Geertruida, Ballard, Mukiele, Reinildo; Diarra, Xhaka, Sadiki; Talbi, Brobbey, Adingra
Substitutes: Anthony Patterson, Omar Alderete, Trai Hume, Enzo Le Fee, Dan Neil, Chris Rigg, Bertrand Traore, Eliezer Mayenda, Wilson Isidor
Reserves: Blondy Nna Noukeu, Simon Moore, Luke O'Nien, Dennis Cirkin, Aji Alese, Arthur Masuaku, Leo Hjelde, Timothee Pembele, Milan Aleksic, Jay Matete, Abdoullah Ba, Ian Poveda, Romaine Mundle