Time is ticking for Sunderland in the transfer market, with Thomas Meunier, Jules Ahoua and Dayann Methalie the only additions on Wearside ahead of the September 1 deadline.
Supporters’ feelings are mixed, with some losing their heads on social media, calling our bids to land a central defender and a winger “desperate”, while others are more relaxed.
Of course, one of the major factors behind the distress is that the Black Cats will be playing European football this season for the first time in over
50 years, and Régis Le Bris will need a squad that can cope with the abundance of football.
We all know that expectations must be more levelled this campaign, and if history tells us anything, it is that the club will likely experience a dip in the Premier League while a route into the knockout stages in Europe should beckon.
One of the key areas Florent Ghisolfi and co. have been trying to bolster is on either wing. Against Fulham, Trai Hume and Nilson Angulo occupied the flanks, and while the pair provided contrasting skillsets, neither was able to open up the Cottagers’ backline.
Interestingly, it was Habib Diarra, a central midfielder by trade, who burst forward with pace to beat the defence and supply Wilson Isidor with a pinpoint cross to put the Lads ahead and win the game. Chemsdine Talbi, on the other hand, was an unused substitute, which tells you everything you need to know about his place in the squad.
Moves for targets on either flank appear to be dead in the water, with Geny Catamo (right), Jack Grealish (left), Igor Paixão (left) and Malick Fofana (left) all either staying at their respective clubs or moving to different pastures. That could, of course, all change, and there may be another target in the offing we are not yet aware of.
While I don’t know the truth behind every deal, it seems that the club have faced a battle to acquire a winger without paying over the odds, which has led to a cat-and-mouse approach, hence the business dragging out until the end of the window.
Does business feel desperate? I’m not so sure. The club would have drawn up a list of potential targets and would have been working their way through that list. Sunderland are not Tottenham, and I think throwing extra millions at players sets an unhealthy precedent and places you in a weaker position in future windows.
One positive is that it looks to be only a matter of time until a new centre-back is in the building, with Spurs’ move for Tosin Adarabioyo opening the door for Kevin Danso’s arrival on an initial loan. While I haven’t been overly convinced by his performances in North London, Tottenham fans appear gutted to lose him, and he bolsters a position where we have at times been short.
Another area of the pitch I would have liked added depth in is up front; not because of the lack of quality, but because the departure of Eliezer Mayenda leaves us with just Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidor. Both are going to have significant parts to play in differing systems, as we saw on Sunday, but that position feels a bit short to me.
Perhaps the biggest win of the summer, which seems to have been overlooked by some, is that we have retained a collective of players who could represent any side in this division. Nordi Mukiele and Granit Xhaka were immense against Fulham, and Enzo Le Fée hasn’t even kicked into gear yet. There was a fear that we would lose some of our key players this summer, and instead we have managed to keep all of them at the Stadium of Light for another season. That cannot be underestimated.
The message throughout the summer is that the club wanted to add around five quality players to the squad, and so far we have added three. Thomas Meunier has already shown his ability at right-back, and when given their chance, I’m sure Methalie and Ahoua will too. Add Danso and a winger to the squad, and I would say it has been a successful window.
Would I have liked business to be more urgent? Of course. However, I have faith in the club to do the right deals at the right price and not to be pressured into paying over the odds. We all saw what happened with Will Grigg in League One, and although this situation is different, I feel the panic among some supporters is unnecessary.
