- Sunderland expect a quieter summer this time around
- The Black Cats signed 14 players before their return to the Premier League
- Regis Le Bris wants to fine tune his squad this time around
Regis Le Bris has said he doesn’t expect another crazy summer like last year as believes this transfer window is about small changes.
After the incredible scenes at Wembley last year, when Tom Watson’s late winner sealed Sunderland’s return to the promise land, the club embarked on a huge squad rebuild.
However, Sunderland will be looking to fine tune in anticipation for another successful year.
The club signed a huge 14 players last year, and many automatically assumed the worst.
But apart from one or two who haven’t performed as expected, the summer transfer window was seen as a success.
Sunderland managed to create a brilliant spine last year, with the introduction of Robin Roefs, Omar Alderete, Granit Xhaka and Brian Brobbey.
This time however, the club will be looking to build on such a solid foundation.
With three games left to go, the club still has an outside chance of European football, but a mid table finish will go down as a success regardless.
Currently sitting in 13th, the club are on course to finish above the likes of Leeds United, Crystal Palace and local rivals Newcastle United.
Why this Summer will be different to last year
This summer will allow Le Bris to make further improvements to his squad. While he expects the club to be active in the window, he doesn’t see wholesale changes occurring.
He told The Northern Echo: “I think the season gives us a strong platform.” Before going on to say: “It will still be important to add two, three or four players to help the starting 11.”
Le Bris and the club accepted last summer that the squad that gained promotion wasn’t ready for the top flight.
Nobody envisioned that in the Frenchman’s first season at the Stadium of Light that the possibility of promotion was an option.
Because of this, huge changes were required to give them a fighting chance in the Premier League.
So Where Will the Club Look to Make Changes?
A number of players looking set to leave this summer, with Bertrand Traore, Dan Neil and Denis Cirkin all out of contract.
Also, Wilson Isidor is looking for a new challenge after losing his place in the starting 11. The club will primarily looking to improve the squad depth.
Hopefully the club can keep a hold of their stars, players like Robin Roefs and Brian Brobbey have been linked to moves to Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich respectively.
With Kristjaan Speakman – who oversaw last summers recruitment – now gone, it is on the shoulders of Florent Ghisolfi to make sure this transfer window is a success.
The club have been linked with moves for the likes of former Fulham midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.
He has been performing handedly at Napoli, and was an integral part of their Serie A championship win last season.
Another player linked with a move to the Stadium of Light is that on Enzo Boyomo.
The Osasuna defender has performed well in La Liga, and the club will be hoping the Cameroonian can have a similar impact as that of Alderete when he arrived last year.
The 24-year-old has some experience in English football as he spent time with Blackburn Rovers early on in his career, before joining Albacete.
The Importance of This Summer
This summer is huge for Sunderland, as they will want to build on the success of this season.
By making small changes this time around, the club can consolidate their position as a Premier League club.
One bad transfer window can really derail a club, Sunderland, and Ghisolfi have to do their due diligence to make sure the good feeling around the club isn’t hindered.
It is also important not to bite off more than you can chew either.
We have seen clubs in the past push themselves too far and suffer because of it.
Liverpool last season attacked the window after a hugely successful season and suffered because of the big changes. Newcastle United had a similar issue.
Sunderland would be smart to just make minor tweaks in preparation for their second season and avoid the dreaded ‘second season syndrome’.
