Stefan Borson
Tue 3 June 2025 13:02, UK
Sunderland are putting plans in place for next season after securing their long-awaited return to the Premier League following their play-off final victory over Sheffield United.
Regis Le Bris’s side came back from 1-0 down at half-time to win 2-1 in the Wembley showdown, with Tom Watson scoring a 95th-minute winner.
Football Insider revealed on 29 May Sunderland’s hierarchy will make “big” funds available for a summer transfer overhaul.
Leeds United and Burnley were both promoted alongside the Black Cats after finishing in the top two spots in the Championship table.
Finance expert Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider Leeds are currently a financially bigger club than Sunderland and can spend more money this summer.
Football Insider revealed on 7 May Leeds will have a £150million budget in the summer transfer window, which opened on 1 June.
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The Yorkshire giants, who claimed the Championship title, last played in the Premier League in the 2022-23 campaign.
Regis Le Bris Sunderland 2
(Credit Imago)
Sunderland relegation verdict shared
Borson insisted Sunderland may have to accept the likelihood of relegation due to the financial gap between the Premier League and Championship.
He told Football Insider: “I think it could be very difficult for Sunderland this time around.
“I think you’re going to have a situation where they obviously try and survive clearly, but probably do that kind of Southampton and Norwich, that type of almost planned strategic yo-yoing for a couple of seasons. That’s what is likely.
“I doubt they’re going to go for a Nottingham Forest let’s go and spend £200million and just gamble, and probably breach PSR. I doubt they’re going to do that.
“Look, it worked for Nottingham Forest, but it’s a very bold move and it nearly didn’t work actually. But those are really the two strategies if you’re Sunderland.
“They are not in the same position as Leeds. Leeds have already done quite a lot of yo-yoing. They are financially just a bigger club than Sunderland right now, so Leeds have got more flexibility and a better starting point in terms of the quality of the squad.
“If they spend another £100-150million on top of what they’ve got, they give themselves a much better chance of staying up, and there is much less risk of it going wrong from a PSR and relegation perspective.
“But Sunderland I think are just going to have to be a bit more cautious than that.
“They are just going to have to accept the likelihood of relegation, bank as much money as they can from being in the Premier League, as much money as they can from the parachute payments and try and get back up again.”
Position Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points
1 Leeds United (C) 46 29 13 4 100
2 Burnley (P) 46 28 16 2 100
3 Sheffield United 46 28 8 10 90
4 Sunderland (P) 46 21 13 12 76
5 Coventry 46 20 9 17 69
6 Bristol City 46 17 17 12 68
Championship final table
Sunderland star verbally agrees Borussia Dortmund deal
Football Insider revealed on 28 May Sunderland star Jobe Bellingham has verbally agreed to join Borussia Dortmund.
The 19-year-old midfielder is ready to finalise terms with the Bundesliga giants after helping clinch promotion at the Stadium of Light.
Tottenham and Chelsea have also shown interest in Bellingham, but Dortmund look set to win the race for his signature.
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