If any of the last six promoted sides would like the blueprint for comfortable survival, then they should take a trip to Wearside where Sunderland may show them their masterplan.
The Black Cats simply haven't looked back since Tommy Watson scored a last-gasp winner against Sheffield United in the playoff final last summer. It would have been so easy to admire their work. Not many even expected them to reach the playoff final, let alone the Premier League last year.
Tommy-Watson
Sunderland haven't been here to admire the view, however, and that's been clear from the very start. He may have just left the club, but Kristjaan Speakman deserves a mention every time that the Black Cats receive praise.
The former sporting director transformed the club and lured the likes of Granit Xhaka and Brian Brobbey to Wearside last summer. These are European calibre players who took the leap to take a class in Sunderland's school of Premier League survival.
Granit-Xhaka
Sunderland's blueprint for survival
It wasn't a cheap plan, but nothing ever is in the Premier League these days. Just ask Leicester City. But it also wasn't recruitment for the sake of recruitment. They resisted the urge to just focus on experience and experience only; to follow the Middlesbrough path towards their own version of Alvaro Negredo.
Instead, there was a balance. In came the experience of Xhaka, who is still at the peak of his powers. And then in came rising stars like Noah Sadiki, who has been the perfect fit for Regis Le Bris' 4-2-3-1 system.
Promotion clubs 25/26 summer spending Most expensive signing
Sunderland £155m Diarra (£27m)
Leeds United £99m Okafor (£18m)
Burnley £112m Ugochukwu (£23m)
It is no shock that, out of all three promoted sides, Sunderland spent the most. They're the ones reaping the biggest rewards for doing so. It's also clear how important recruitment is, given that Burnley outspent Leeds but remain the only side of the three currently on course to be relegated.
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Aside from Simon Adingra, who is now at AS Monaco, it's tough to pinpoint where Sunderland failed to spend wisely and there is one, clear standout signing from the summer.
Sunderland's signing of the season
It's easy to point out a flashy attacking star as the signing of the season, especially at Sunderland. After all, Brobbey has only got better and better in Wearside. But Robin Roefs is the true standout.
brian-brobbey-sunderland
Just ask Manchester United and Andre Onana just how difficult it is to adapt to the top flight and they'll make Roefs introduction all the more impressive.
The shot-stopper, who arrived for just £9m, is now reportedly worth as much as £50m at Sunderland amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur. That's a rise in value by a staggering 455%. Simply put, however, why would he, or anyone for that matter, even consider leaving Sunderland right now?
Robin Roefs 25/26 Premier League stats
Minutes 2,430
Save Percentage 71.1%
Saves 81
Clean Sheets 8
Hailed as an "exceptional" goalkeeper by teammate Luke O'Nien, Roefs' save percentage is particularly impressive and highlights just how reliable he is. Even if he's not as flashy as others around the Premier League, he does the simple things to an excellent standard and that's the ideal scenario for a promoted side.
It almost represents Sunderland's recruitment at its best. Roefs was not a well-known name in English football last summer. He played his football at NEC Nijmegen. It wouldn't even be absurd to suggest that some may have been unsure of the unknown when he arrived.
Robin-Roefs
Sunderland would have known exactly what they signed, however. Speakman, for the umpteenth time in the summer, struck gold and the Black Cats are continuing to benefit.
Without the sporting director, those in Wearside should be one of the most interesting sides to watch in the market. After so much success last year, they'll be desperate to repeat their transfer genius.
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