It looks set to a busy summer on Wearside as Sunderland prepare for European and Premier League football
Though Sunderland are yet to make their first signing of the transfer window, it has already been a dramatic summer on Wearside.
With the players now back for pre-season training, our writers Phil Smith and James Copley reflect on the developments of the past week and give their view...
The end of the Granit Xhaka saga is clearly a huge boost for Sunderland - but just how significant could it be moving forward?
JC: It feels hugely significant because this was never just about keeping a very good footballer. Xhaka is Sunderland’s captain, their standard-setter and one of the clearest symbols of the club’s ambition. Had he left so soon after arriving, particularly after the progress made last season, it would have created a difficult narrative around the project. Instead, Sunderland have stood firm and kept a player who could be central both on and off the pitch.
His experience, leadership and quality will be vital in a season that brings Premier League demands and European football. It also sends an important message externally: Sunderland will not be bullied, and they want to build something. Keeping Xhaka gives Régis Le Bris continuity, authority in the dressing room and a proven elite-level figure around a largely young squad. That will likely be massive.
PS: No player is irreplaceable or bigger than the club, but there's also little doubt that Xhaka has dragged this project forward quicker and further than anyone could have anticipated 12 months ago. At this stage of the team's development, his creativity and leadership would have been exceptionally difficult to replace without taking out a chunk of the budget needed for other positions.
It give Le Bris and the team real continuity and a strong foundation from which they can look to build, but most importantly it sends out such a strong message that last season was no fluke Sunderland are only just getting started.
Eliezer Mayenda has completed his £22million switch to Stade Rennais - do you think this is good business for the club?
JC: Yes, I think it is good business, though it should still be viewed with a bit of emotion attached. Sunderland signed Mayenda for a relatively modest fee and have now sold him for a major profit, which is obviously important from an accounting and squad-building perspective. In pure financial terms, it is exactly the sort of deal clubs like Sunderland have to get right. But Mayenda also leaves having made a real contribution.
He developed, overcame difficult spells and played a huge part in the promotion campaign, including those crucial play-off goals. There is always a risk when you sell a young player with potential, particularly one who had built such a strong connection with supporters, but £22million is a serious fee.
Provided Sunderland reinvest well, it feels like a transfer that works for all parties. He leaves with real credit in the bank, but Brian Brobbey is very much Le Bris' first choice.
PS: It's really sad to see Mayenda go and there is that small part of you that fears he goes to France, scores lots of goals and you're left wondering 'what if'. Sunderland have to take the emotion out of it, though, and this is a deal that really strengthens their SCR position and allows them to invest in one and maybe two players who will probably be closer to competing for regular starts. It was clear that Mayenda wanted a move to really kickstart his career and given what he gave to Sunderland in that promotion season, you can't begrudge him that. The key was to land a fee that makes it worthwhile for Sunderland and fair play to the club as they have undoubtedly done that.
It's been very quiet on the incomings front - are you at all concerned or still pretty relaxed?
JC: I would still be pretty relaxed at this stage. It has been quiet, and supporters naturally want to see movement, especially after the boost of Xhaka staying and Mayenda leaving for a significant fee. But Sunderland have earned a bit of trust in the market. They have shown they can move smartly, protect value and act decisively when the right deal is there. It is also worth remembering that they simply do not have as much to do this summer compared to last year, when the squad required major surgery.
The World Cup is another factor to consider. It has changed the transfer picture because players, agents and clubs know how important this season could be for international prospects. That can slow decisions down, raise prices and make targets think carefully about their next move. Sunderland are shopping in a more competitive pool now, with Premier League and European football changing both the calibre of target and the complexity of deals. That often means patience is required.
Of course, they still need additions, and the squad cannot stand still, particularly with the demands ahead. But concern would only really grow if the quiet spell drags deep into the window without progress. For now, it feels more like patience than panic.
PS: Like James, still fairly relaxed. It was never going to move at quite the same pace as last summer and when you consider that we're essentially a fortnight behind anyway due to the World Cup and a later start to the Premier League campaign, there's no real cause for panic. With Xhaka staying, we know that the core of Sunderland's team in already in place for next season and this is about adding a small number of exciting, high-quality additions. Shopping in that market means time and patience is required. Don't get me wrong, the sooner those deals happen the better and ideally you want to give new arrivals the longest time possible to settle in.
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