Sunderland could field interest in some of their best young players this summer
David Jones believes elite clubs will be circling for Sunderland's talent this summer, and says that a major sale shouldn't be feared.
A number of Sunderland's summer recruits have enjoyed outstanding seasons in the Premier League, with Noah Sadiki and Robin Roefs already linked with some of the biggest clubs in the league and beyond. In an interview with The Echo the Sky Sports presenter and former non-executive director praised Kyril Louis-Dreyfus's ambition and pragmatism in signing experienced players such as Granit Xhaka and Nordi Mukiele last summer, but added that investing in young talent will remain key to the club's model.
Jones revealed that the club's swoop for Sadiki last summer surprised some of their Premier League rivals and that the occasional bumper sale can drive the club's growth in the top tier just as it did in the Premier League.
"They were the catalyst weren't they as well I think for others that came in, to say that Sunderland is a team that needs to be considered very seriously," Jones told The Echo.
"I still think that the model will still be there and I still think that it would be okay to sell a couple of players to move forward this summer, I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case because there there will undoubtedly be other clubs that are looking with coveted eyes at some of our talents. I mean when we signedNoah Sadiki, I got a message from someone I know at Brentford saying they couldn't believe the price that we got him for. I did maybe think well, why didn't you do it? But maybe maybe we had an in to Sadiki that they didn't perhaps. I don't know. I think he's been fantastic and obviously the goalkeeper everyone's going to be talking about, there are others as others as well that have certainly enhanced their reputation so I don't think we can be afraid if one or two of those players are sold because I still think the club will need to do that along the way to make progress.
"I've been amazed by how well the goalkeeper has done and I wouldn't not be surprised if there are I think there are two or three of the big guns that are eyeing him up as as potential signing. That would be disappointing I think from my perspective after one season with him, from a selfish perspective I hope that Sunderland can keep him from a bit longer."
Jones: Xhaka the best player that Sunderland have ever signed
Jones also expressed his view that Xhaka was the best player the club have ever signed.
"At the time that I thought that Granit Xhaka was the best player that the football club had ever signed in its history," Jones said.
"Now I'm not saying that he would be the best signing in the club's history but at that moment that he arrived through the doors of the football club he was the best footballer that Sunderland had ever signed; I still think he could play in any in any team in the Premier League and I mean any team in the Premier League.
"He was 100% transformative for what he brought to the club in terms of the leadership which I thought was vital given the coaching structure and and his undoubted quality to protect the team. To bring that experience but also that that quality that he's got to drive the team forward. The young players of great promise that have been signed are sort of the Sunderland way under Kyril Louis-Dreyfus but you know I don't think it's insignificant that behind them there is a real steel core of experience who have stood with the experience and the know-how and the physicality to Sunderland's defence and protect the goal in such a challenging league."
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