Regis Le Bris and Sunderland's players celebrate at Wembley. (Image: Ian Horrocks)
Regis Le Bris and Sunderland's players celebrate at Wembley. (Image: Ian Horrocks)
Sunderland made a return to the Premier League for the first time in eight years after a stunning late win against Sheffield United in the play-off final.
A parting gift from departing winger Tommy Watson, the 95th-minute winner sent Sunderland into the upper echelons of the English game, and set the tone for conversations across the North East for the entire summer.
Who will Sunderland sign? How will they fare against the elite clubs of the country? Will Jobe Bellingham stay?
Since we haven't a water cooler in the office, we sparked a conversation with ChatGPT to see how it thinks the Black Cats will do in the 2025/26 Premier League season.
(Image: PA)
Strengths of the team
Régis Le Bris is identified as a strength for the team heading into the top division. The Frenchman has top-tier experience which ChatGPT said: "Could bring a structured, modern approach — crucial for survival."
Another strength is the youthful nature of the team. Players like Jobe Bellingham, Dan Neil, and Eliezer Mayenda were singled out for praise and it was noted that "Cohesion and hunger could give them an edge over more disjointed squads."
ChatGPT also said: "Play-off winners often start strong due to confidence and unity," providing hope for the Wearsiders to hit the ground running.
(Image: John Walton / PA)
Weaknesses
The leap in quality is steep — especially in midfield and defensive depth - from the Championship to the Premier League.
"Even strong Championship teams often struggle to keep clean sheets in the top flight," the AI said.
The squad is "talented, but young and relatively inexperienced," and ChatGPT predicted: "Injuries or dips in form could expose the lack of proven top-tier players."
(Image: John Walton / PA)
Predictions for the season
The AI agent provided three different predictions based on certain circumstances, mostly hinging on the sale of Bellingham.
**Optimistic -**12th–14th - Smart summer signings, Bellingham stays, Le Bris excels
Realistic - 16th–18th - Some investment, inconsistent results, last-month battle
Pessimistic - 19th–20th - Weak recruitment, Bellingham leaves, slow adaptation
Final prediction - 17th
AI predicted: "Survival in final weeks, narrowly avoiding relegation.
"But with a bold transfer window and continued faith in youth, they could surprise a lot of people."
Transfers
ChatGPT has suggested a few areas to prioritise for signings for the Black Cats.
Here is what the AI system suggested Le Bris' scouts should be focusing on - these suggestions are direct from the chat bot.
Centre-Back
Why? Premier League forwards will test Sunderland’s back line more than the Championship did. Daniel Ballard is solid, but they need an experienced, aerially strong partner.
Ideal profile: 26–30 years old, Premier League or top-tier experience, leadership traits.
Example Targets:
Jake Clarke-Salter (QPR) – Strong in duels, left-footed, mature head.
Ben Mee (Free) – He is set to leave Brentford this summer and could be a savvy short-term leader.
Central Defensive Midfielder
Why? Dan Neil and Jobe Bellingham are energetic but need a steely, composed anchor behind them.
Ideal profile: Ball-winner with good positioning and short-passing ability.
Example Targets:
Vinícius Souza (Sheffield United) – Strong stats and may want step up to Premier League.
Lewis Travis (Blackburn) – Championship-tough, could step up with right coaching.
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Wide Forward / Winger
Why? Sunderland need more goals from wide positions, according to AI.
Ideal profile: Direct, good 1v1, can create space or cut inside to score.
Example Targets:
Jack Clarke (Ipswich) – First priority would be to bring him back.
Samuel Iling-Junior (Aston Villa) – Raw but explosive; could benefit from regular minutes.
Abdallah Sima (Brighton) – Fringe player with pace and power, may be loanable - has spent last couple of seasons on loan from the south coast side.