What a time to be a Sunderland fan!

Photo by Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images

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Reports are coming out saying that Noah Sadiki and Simon Adingra rejected clubs like AC Milan and Frankfurt — big teams that are competing in Europe.

We’re fifth in Europe for ‘money spent’ so far, up there with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid, and the club have organised pre-season friendlies against famous teams like Real Betis and Sporting Lisbon.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

All of this can only be a good thing and frankly, no other fan base deserves it more.

I myself was only nine when we were relegated

from the Premier League. Now, at seventeen, I get to have my first proper experience of it.

The idea that my team — who I’ve watched play against Oldham, Scunthorpe and Swindon in recent years — is now preparing for trips to the Etihad, the Emirates and Anfield fills me with not only a strong sense of pride, but a burning, nervous excitement.

Yes, it may be a difficult season, but that’s the consequence of success — a greater challenge, competing against some of the best teams in the world, and I believe that this young squad that’s full of potential can bring something new to the table for the Premier League.

In recent times, the football on display in the Premier League has been quite monotonous and I think we can offer something different with our pace, power and counter-attacking ability. The club seems to be aware of this, with our new signings fitting this criteria.

Photo by George Wood/Getty Images

I admire the club’s efforts to stick to the ‘model’ we’ve established with transfers: investing in what’s hoped to be the next generation of talent from around the world (or Africa, so far!). That said, I do think a few older heads with some experience would be great — in a similar vein to Reinildo — to help both the new signings and the current squad adapt to the Premier League.

This pre-season promises to be a great watch, too.

It’s packed quite tightly but at least it’ll allow for rotation and to get everyone up to scratch. Luckily, my family holiday to Portugal overlaps with the pre-season fixtures (my Dad promises my Mam that he had no idea this would be the case!) and I should be able to see the Lads ripping it up under the summer sun.

I absolutely can’t wait for the season to begin. I’m determined to not let the well-established expectation of relegation dampen my mood, and it shouldn’t dampen yours.

Hopefully, we can use the Stadium of Light and the ‘Roker Roar’ to our advantage and turn some teams over, picking up what could end up being very important points. You never know — if we keep the red flag flying high and these new, exciting signings hit the ground running, we might just have a chance.

Let’s enjoy being back in the big time and back the Lads ‘til the end.

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