Sunderland are riding the crest of a wave under Regis Le Bris' management, and while all is rosy at the Stadium of Light right now, the French tactician will need to be ready for round two in the summer transfer window.
Last year, the Black Cats' summer business drew acclaim, spending heartily but doing so with a precision and shrewdness that has evaded many newly-promoted sides with cash in the bank.
Sunderland's Recent Premier League Finishes
Season
25/26
16/17
15/16
14/15
13/14
12/13
Tenth in the Premier League, Sunderland will do well to repeat this year's success, especially if they lose someone as important as focal frontman Brian Brobbey.
The centre-forward has only gone from strength to strength since arriving in the Premier League last summer, and this has caught the eye of several of Europe's heaviest hitters.
Why Sunderland need the new Brian Brobbey
Brobbey has been a revelation at number nine for Sunderland. Described as being in "beast mode" for the Black Cats by former striker Marco Gabbiadini, he has played the perfect role as the line leader.
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The 23-year-old arrived from Ajax in a deal rising to £21.5m, and though he has only scored six goals from 25 matches in the Premier League, the Dutchman offers so much more than a direct outlet in front of goal.
Maybe his multi-faceted attacking play is what has drawn Bayern Munich to him, with Football Transfers reporting that the Wearsiders are going to demand a club-record sale in the event that he leaves for the German giants this summer - or indeed another suitor.
The figure would have to come in at something higher than £34m.
While the sale of such a crucial attacking cog would demand a big-money replacement, Sunderland do already have the next version of the attacker brewing in the academy - and he is an up-and-comer who Le Bris loves.
Academy sensation could be Sunderland's new Brobbey
Sunderland have a number of attackers who would fancy a shot at filling the void left by Brobbey's potential sale. However, Wilson Isidor has flattered to deceive this seaosn, and Eliezer Mayenda, 20, has scarcely played this season.
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But in the young Finn Geragusian, Sunderland might just have a future successor, with Le Bris already firmly behind the Armenia international.
Geragusian, 18, has been "standing out for the academy", according to journalist Josh Bunting, scoring 28 goals and supplying 16 assists across 75 matches for the Black Cats' development teams.
Yet to make his first-team debut, the teenager was named as an unused substitute for Sunderland's FA Cup fifth round defeat to League One opponents Port Vale.
A natural-born athlete, he has played across a range of offensive positions, but Geragusian is at his best when charging down the centre, blending physicality with an innate desire to score goals. That ability to dribble effectively does outline the potential for superstardom down the line, especially when Sunderland are in such good nick.
Having been blooded in Armenia's national team set-up, Le Bris has hailed the rising star's progress, confirming that he has started to join first-team sessions.
“He has had a few training sessions with us and I appreciate his profile,” the manager said. “He’s a good lad and really well connected with the club and the region.”
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Geragusian might not be ready to lead the line in the Premier League each week, but he certainly has the potential to become a mainstay in Le Bris' senior set-up.
The manager really admires him, and if Brobbey does leave, there's no question that Geragusian will be considered as plans are put together to replace him.
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