Sunderland have exceeded expectations on their return to the Premier League, and then some.
Regis Le Bris will have sat down with the powers that be after securing promotion from the Championship one year ago and outlined a plan to remain in the top flight, and he has certainly accomplished that goal.
While the Black Cats have triumphed this season, securing their place in Europe and crafting a team capable of sustaining themselves in the Premier League across numerous seasons, the decision-makers will be wary of 'second-season syndrome'.
regis-le-bris-sunderland
Many times, promoted sides have stumbled after initially securing safety in the Premier League. Sunderland, who have the added weight of European competition, must not let this happen, signing depth and quality over the next three months.
Sunderland hoping to sign Premier League playmaker
Sunderland beat Chelsea last weekend and secured their place in Europe. Many may not have imagined such a fanciful ending to the season could have been realised, but it was, and at the Blues' expense too.
Now is the time for the powers that be to secure top quality, and the creative channels could do with some fresh life.
According to Sports Boom, Sunderland are among the interested clubs in Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott, who has endured a frustrating year out on loan with Aston Villa.
It's understood that the Reds are willing to listen to offers worth around £30m for the England U21 superstar, who needs a platform from which he can regrow into one of the Premier League's most exciting talents.
Harvey Elliott celebrates for Liverpool
Formal discussions are expected soon, and with a host of Premier League clubs interested, RB Leipzig have also made themselves known after interest last year.
Sunderland already have Enzo Le Fee operating within similar tactical parameters, but there is room for two at the Stadium of Light, even though Elliott has the potential to overtake the 26-year-old Frenchman.
Why Elliot's creativity is needed at Sunderland
From the get-go, Elliott has been recognised as a creative midfielder with game-changing qualities, only shoved to the sidelines at Villa Park - and before that Anfield - due to managerial differences and, in Villa's case, an unwillingness to make his loan move permanent.
He's exactly what Le Bris needs to avoid a fall from grace next year, and while Le Fee has been a mainstay throughout the season, he has the potential to be something greater for the Wearsiders.
Creativity marked one of the lower ebbs of the Black Cats' campaign, but such metrics should be taken with a pinch of salt. Going by that metric, they would have been relegated, but instead look ahead to a European adventure.
Lowest xG Totals in the PL (25/26)
Club
Nott'm Forest
Tottenham
Sunderland
Burnley
Wolves
Expected Goals (xG) is a metric designed to measure the probability of a shot resulting in a goal.
Elliott might have suffered this season, but he won the Europa League last year, and he has a wealth of previous experience out on the continent with Liverpool, surely boasting enough to rival and maybe even outperform the likes of Le Fee in Sunderland's set-up.
Nothing against the Frenchman, who was crucial throughout the campaign, but the xG graph does tell something of Sunderland's playmaking deficiencies, which Elliott could shift through his ability to produce "some real bits of magic on the ball", as once noted by former Liverpool U18s head coach Neil Critchley.
Harvey-Elliott
Le Fee, a silky playmaker, started 33 Premier League games this season, creating 13 big chances. He's been great, but Elliott has even more in the locker, coming up trumps during Jurgen Klopp's final year on Merseyside, creating five big chances across only 11 starts during an injury-hit spell.
Sunderland have to complete this signing, adding a dimension and ensuring they have the quality to avoid a relegation battle and maybe, just maybe, outdo themselves once again.
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