INS
How much improvement does the current squad need in order to be competitive in the Premier League? Sunderland’s recruitment team, led by sporting director Kristjaan Speakman, have spent the first part of the year compiling two different wish lists – one for the top-flight and one for the Championship. Thanks to events at Wembley, they now know which direction they will be heading in this summer.
The Black Cats will find themselves bombarded with the offer of players following their promotion, but while there has always been a degree of flexibility within the recruitment model, the general thrust of the club’s transfer approach will remain unchanged.
The bulk of Sunderland’s transfer work will continue to focus on the purchase of relatively young players with a high degree of development potential. That doesn’t mean the Black Cats will be signing complete unknowns, but it does mean there will not be a return to the days when promotion would mean packing the squad with experienced 30-somethings on long-term deals. Speakman and Kyril Louis-Dreyfus have developed a model they think works – they will not be ripping it up just because they can afford to target more highly-priced players.
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What positions will be a priority? The switch of Enzo Le Fee’s loan deal to a permanent transfer has immediately strengthened Sunderland’s attacking-midfield options, but the need for wide-attacking players remains acute. Jack Clarke was not really replaced when he left last summer, and now Tommy Watson has also departed. Romaine Mundle and Patrick Roberts remain in place, but Sunderland want to strengthen out wide.
Full-back is another priority position, especially on the right, where Trai Hume is really the only option available to Regis Le Bris. While Aji Alese’s return from injury should be a boost, Sunderland are also short of options on the left of their back four.
Eliezer Mayenda and Wilson Isidor will be desperate to prove themselves in the Premier League, but the Black Cats need to add depth to their attack. Another loan deal for Liverpool’s Jayden Danns, who was unable to feature in the second half of last season because of injury, is an option.
What about Jordan Henderson? The Wearsider has been heavily linked with a return to his boyhood club, with his time at Ajax seemingly coming to an end. While Sunderland will continue to prioritise youth, a move for Henderson would add some valuable Premier League experience to the squad. A short-term deal is being given serious consideration.
OUTS
Watson has already gone, with his stoppage-time winner at Wembley proving to be his final parting gift before leaving for Brighton. There has been some talk of the winger potentially being loaned back to Sunderland next season, but that currently feels unlikely.
Is there any chance of Sunderland holding on to Jobe Bellingham? A slight one. But the fact that the midfielder has been openly holding talks with a series of German suitors strongly suggests he will be leaving Wearside for good this summer.
Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund are leading the race for the 19-year-old, with RB Leipzig also part of the equation. Birmingham City will be due a sell-on clause if Bellingham leaves, but with Sunderland set to receive an up-front fee of around £25m for a player they spent £3m to sign two years ago, the profit will still be considerable.
Will Dan Neil also be leaving? The Black Cats hierarchy won’t want him to, but Roma’s reported interest is understood to be genuine and a formal approach from the Serie A side is anticipated.
Sunderland midfielder Dan NeilSunderland midfielder Dan Neil (Image: Ian Horrocks)
Roma, who have qualified to play in the Europa League next season, have been linked with a £15m offer. On the face of it, that feels fairly low. But Neil is about to enter the final year of his current contract, and Sunderland will be mindful of the rate at which his value will plummet if he does not sign a new deal.
What about some of the club’s other leading lights? Anthony Patterson, Trai Hume, Dan Ballard and Chris Rigg have all been linked with Premier League clubs at various points in the last couple of years, but Sunderland are in a strong contractual position with all four players. Strengthened by their top-flight income, they will not feel compelled to sell.
CONTRACTS
Sunderland ended last season with none of their senior players out of contract, but both Neil and Dennis Cirkin are about to enter the final 12 months of their existing deal and the Black Cats will not want either to get to January without a new plan in place.
Neil’s situation is the most pressing given Roma’s interest, and holding talks with the midfielder and his representatives will be a key summer priority. Can Neil be persuaded to sign a new deal? Or will Sunderland have to weigh up the pros and cons of keeping him if there is a chance of him leaving for nothing next summer.
Talks with Cirkin and his agent are also planned, with Sunderland keen to extend the full-back’s stay at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland will also look to hand out first contracts to some of their most promising academy talents, with deals for Jaydon Jones and Jack Whittaker in the pipeline.