Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris (Image: Annabel Lee-Ellis)
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris (Image: Annabel Lee-Ellis)
REGIS Le Bris insists he remains calm and unconcerned despite only having one new signing added to his first team squad this summer - and says club officials remain hard at work as efforts continue to bolster the ranks.
Le Bris didn't want to comment on individuals after Sunderland's move to sign Dayann Methalie from Toulouse stalled earlier this week because of a medical issue.
Methalie has now returned to France but discussions between the clubs are understood to be ongoing on that front and the move remains in the balance.
The plan was always to focus on quality rather than quantity this summer and Le Bris says Sunderland will remain "patient, calm and organised" as they look to add to their squad in the final week and a half of the window.
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And while Sunderland have only added Thomas Meunier to their ranks, Le Bris was keen to point out that the Black Cats have so far managed to keep hold of all of their key assets. Chelsea failed in their pursuit of Granit Xhaka and there's so far been no firm approaches for the likes of Robin Roefs, Noah Sadiki or Brian Brobbey.
"I won't comment on individuals [Methalie] as usual, about the transfer market," said Sunderland's head coach.
"I think, first of all, it's good to keep the core of the group. It's a strong reminder that it's not the end of the story for this group. Our main players want to stay in Sunderland, they want to achieve something big, and it's really positive to keep this core.
"After that, quality over quantity, it's not the same dynamic if we compare with last season.
"It might be reassuring to have a lot of movement but in this case, it's not our target. We are clear in what we are looking for. It's hard because the market is not an easy one as well, but at the same time, we stay patient, we stay calm and organised.
"I trust the club, I trust the process as a whole because we are well connected and if we don't have early signings this season, there's a reason and it's not because we don't want to achieve the targets, it's just because it's not possible at the minute.
"The market is a bit different. We don't have the same targets as last season, first of all, and the market is probably slower than usual.
"Some clubs as well overpaid some players and it doesn't help the following situations. Because if a club, for example, pays a player £50 million rather than the real value, around £20 million, then the next signings, they want to align with the same. So until the last week, probably, this will apply."
Le Bris did concede, however, that with Sunderland preparing for the Europa League as well as the Premier League this term, it's "important" to strengthen the squad.
He said: "You can feel when you train with them every day and you live with them every day whether the energy is big, low or if you have problems in the connection within the team. Here and now, it's not the case.
"They just enjoy to be together, they just enjoy to have strong objectives ahead and so it's really positive. And after that, obviously, it's important to add a few players to help the team in different positions and because of the numbers of games we'll have this season as well."
Sunderland have been boosted by the availability of Meunier, Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete ahead of the Premier League opener at Ipswich on Saturday, though Le Bris admitted they are "not all at the same stage fitness level wise".
Simon Adingra is out for a few more weeks with the ankle injury he suffered in pre-season. It's not clear whether that will have any impact on a potential move for the former Brighton man.