AliousJames Copley: Sunderland’s Bold Transfer Plan Is Impressive – But Premier League Know-How Could Be the Missing Piece
There’s genuine optimism surrounding Sunderland’s summer rebuild. Ambitious signings like Enzo Le Fée, Habib Diarra, and Noah Sadiki highlight a club with a clear vision and renewed energy under new head coach Régis Le Bris. The imminent arrival of Reinildo Mandava, a seasoned campaigner with experience in both the Champions League and La Liga, further underscores the club’s progressive recruitment strategy.
These are serious additions—players who’ve gone toe-to-toe with Europe’s elite and proven they belong. The Black Cats are clearly aiming higher. But amid all the justified excitement, a crucial point deserves attention: Sunderland’s squad, as it stands, contains a combined total of just **22 Premier League appearances**.
That number includes fringe players like Ian Poveda, Leo Hjelde, Simon Moore, and Niall Huggins—many of whom may not feature significantly this season. Patrick Roberts is perhaps the only one among them likely to play a consistent role. This lack of top-flight experience doesn’t suggest failure or mismanagement. On the contrary, Sunderland’s transfer work this summer has been admirably cohesive and aligned with the long-term project shaped by Kristjaan Speakman, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, and now Florent Ghisolfi.
However, the absence of seasoned Premier League professionals does raise a valid concern around **balance**. Having players who understand the league’s pace, pressure, and unforgiving nature could be invaluable—especially when the margins for survival are razor-thin.
Critics of this argument often point to past failures involving “experienced” signings—Jack Rodwell, Joleon Lescott, Danny Graham—players who arrived with reputations but offered little return. The point here isn’t to revert to signing players on the decline. It’s about selectively integrating proven individuals who can **lead by example**, steady the ship during tough spells, and guide a young, talented squad through the inevitable growing pains.
When Sunderland returned to the Championship, they had players like Danny Batth, Corry Evans, and Patrick Roberts to provide a level of assurance and know-how. That type of presence will be just as vital in the Premier League, where every mistake is punished, and every point must be earned.
Encouragingly, not all hope rests on the youth movement. Sunderland’s reported interest in Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic—who has tasted Premier League football and impressed in Ligue 1—suggests the recruitment team is open to blending potential with experience. And to be fair, several current squad members have racked up significant minutes in English football, even if not yet at Premier League level. How well they adapt to the step up remains to be seen.
There’s no perfect formula. Many players have arrived in the Premier League with no experience and become stars. Sunderland may well believe that tactical clarity and raw talent will carry them through—and that’s a fair bet, especially considering how far they’ve come. Just a few years ago, the debate was about whether they could hang onto players like Denver Hume or upgrade from Callum McFadzean. Now, they’re discussing £30m midfielders and full-backs with Champions League pedigree.
It’s a refreshing shift. The fact that Sunderland supporters are now debating whether the squad needs a bit more top-flight know-how is itself a sign of **how much the club has evolved**. These are positive problems—questions rooted in ambition, not desperation.
So while the model is clearly working and the future looks bright, adding one or two players who know the terrain of the Premier League could make the difference between simply surviving and thriving. A touch of experience, wisely added, might just be the final piece in Sunderland’s carefully constructed puzzle.
Alious
