The Black Cats’ superb return to life in the top-flight has led to growing speculation over some of Regis Le Bris’ leading lights ahead of the reopening of the transfer window.
Bayern Munich are reportedly interested in a possible move for striker Brian Brobbey, who has excelled since joining Sunderland in a £20m summer move from Ajax.
Robin Roefs, Nordi Mukiele and Noah Sadiki have also been linked with possible moves away from Wearside after impressing following their respective moves to the Stadium of Light just under a year ago.
In the past, senior Sunderland officials have not shied away from admitting that the club’s financial model relies heavily on successful player trading. The sale of the likes of Jack Clarke, Tommy Watson and Jobe Bellingham effectively enabled last summer’s transformative transfer work that saw more than £200m invested in new signings.
There are likely to be further sales ahead of the start of next season, but with Louis-Dreyfus continuing to play a hands-on role overseeing recruitment alongside director of football, Florent Ghisolfi, Le Bris is confident there will not be a fire-sale of Sunderland’s leading assets.
“We never know what will happen because the market is so unpredictable,” said the Black Cats boss. “If that happens [interest in players] it is a positive consequence of the work we have done together this season.
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“We will see what happens. But I think we don’t want to change a whole team, that is important. That is a big thing for us.
“I think Kyril is really clear on that. He is still ambitious and he doesn’t want to sell 50 per cent of the squad. That doesn’t make sense. After that, you have to respect the market and the journey that everyone is on. We will make our decisions at the right time.”
Sunderland’s preparations for the forthcoming transfer window effectively began when last year’s summer window closed, but the goalposts would move significantly if the Black Cats were to qualify for Europe next season.
A place in either the Europa League or Conference League would ask significantly different questions of a squad that has benefited from a relatively light fixture list in the current campaign.
As Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace have learned this year, it is extremely difficult to combine a successful Premier League campaign with a season of European football.
If Sunderland were to make it to Europe, their squad would need significant strengthening but while there are only six games of the current campaign, Le Bris still feels it is too early to be making firm decisions about summer transfer plans.
“It’s a bit early [to be focusing on summer transfer work] but the structure is well set-up now,” he said. “I think we are really well organised in the recruitment structure, which wasn’t the case last season. We started the summer late, although finally we were ready for the Premier League
“We don’t need to rush the process now in terms of coming to a decision about signings. Let’s wait until the last minute of the last game, then we will see where it goes.
“According to the outcome, we will be ready as a club and an organisation to make our decisions at that time.”