Sunderland’s promotion to the Premier League will make it a busy summer for Regis Le Bris and the Black Cats hierarchy.
Sunderland have booked their place in the Premier League for the 2025/26 campaign following their 2-1 win over Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final.
Tyrese Campbell’s first-half dink over man-of-the-match Anthony Patterson broke the deadlock on Saturday afternoon with Chris Wilder’s Blades going into half-time a goal to the good.
In the second half, the game flipped in Sunderland’s favour thanks to Eliezer Mayenda’s emphatic equaliser, that poised the affair for a dramatic conclusion.
With seconds to go, Brighton-bound Tommy Watson completed the perfect end to his Sunderland story, slotting home a stunning winner to send the 35,000 Black Cats faithful into scenes of ecstasy.
Now, attention turns to the pivotal summer transfer window, and Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris will have three mammoth tasks at the top of his to-do list in preparation for the Premier League.
Photo by Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images
Make quality signings in key areas for Sunderland
Given the discrepancy in quality between the Championship and Premier League, which seems to grow on a seasonal basis, the first order of business for Le Bris lies within the recruitment drive.
Le Bris was instrumental in attracting Roma loanee Enzo Le Fee, who is now a permanent signing, to Wearside in the January window after their time at FC Lorient together.
Le Fee has been an inspired acquisition, providing an assist in both of the play-off semi-final legs against Coventry City, and his technical quality will be imperative for Sunderland’s survival prospects in next season’s top flight campaign.
Within the summer window, Le Bris must help the Black Cats board with similar signings in the ilk of his countryman Le Fee.
Taking the red and white tinted glasses off for a moment, it is clear that Sunderland need several reinforcements of substantial quality to have any hope of dodging instant demotion, and Le Bris’ opinion on key signatures could be the difference between survival and relegation next term.
Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
Shift the Sunderland deadwood
Sunderland’s first departure of the season comes with Brighton-bound Watson, whose injury-time final winner left the Black Cats with a £220million parting gift.
Watson’s quality and potential certainly do not constitute him being considered as ‘deadwood’, but there are several fringe Sunderland squad members who fall into that category, that Le Bris must be adamant need replacing.
Returning loanees this summer include: Pierre Ekwah, Nectarios Triantis, Timothee Pembele, Abdoullah Ba, Adil Aouchiche and Nazariy Rusyn.
Only Triantis, who shone on loan at Scottish Premier League outfit Hibernian this season, has a chance of featuring for Sunderland next season, but his agent has been adamant the Australian won’t be a “bit-part” player.
The Black Cats boss made clear early in his Wearside tenure that only those “connected” with the club’s project will remain, and the fighting spirit seen across their Championship campaign has been evidence of that.
A continuation of Le Bris’ cut-throat, uncompromising policy is imperative ahead of the top flight return.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Regis Le Bris’ most important Sunderland task ahead of Premier League season
Build on Sunderland’s foundations from the 24/25 season
Le Bris’ game model has been the catalyst for Sunderland’s promotion to the Premier League.
A rigid and resolute 4-4-2 defensive shape has been the foundation for the Black Cats to build on this season, helping them keep 17 clean sheets in the Championship under Le Bris.
The Frenchman’s footballing philosophy is not centered around dominating the ball, akin to how Russell Martin failed to translate at Southampton in the jump from the second tier to the top flight, as Sunderland ranked 12th in the Championship this season for average possession (49.9%).
Key statistic Southampton in 23/24 Championship Sunderland in 24/25 Championship
Possession average 66% 49.9%
Goals scored 87 58
Goals conceded 63 44
Southampton in 23/24 Championship and Sunderland in 24/25 Championship, data per Fotmob
Martin’s Saints tried to play the same way that won them promotion from the Championship, upon their Premier League return, but ultimately failed to do so, and the Scotsman lost his job as a result.
If Le Bris maintains his principles, the Sunderland boss should have no such issue next season, with his less possession-oriented approach theoretically more solid.
As evidenced by the victories in both legs against Coventry City, possession does not win games, results do. Sunderland enjoyed only 26 percent of the ball in the first leg yet ran out 2-1 victors.
Le Bris’ first season at the Wearside helm has seen the Frenchman build solid foundations for Sunderland to build on next season.
Making several acquisitions of Premier League quality, moving on those with no future, and maintaining the key principles that birthed Sunderland’s promotion will be at the top of Le Bris’ to-do list heading into next season, with odds of survival stacked against the Black Cats.