New faces galore - but Wearsiders need more
IT has been a very busy summer transfer window at Sunderland.
With the new ownership and new manager it was always going to require a huge overhaul and already we have ten new signings at the Stadium of Light.
Yet new Black Cats’ owner Stewart Donald admitted this week the squad still needed strengthening in the final nine days of the transfer window - and he said they were working on a few deals.
Jack Ross has been working hard to build a squad capable of winning League One this term and we reckon he is still four or five signings short.
Here are the positions we still think the Wearsiders need to strengthen before the transfer window closes next week.
Sunderland have so far signed left-back Reece James this summer, while Tom Flanagan can also cover at full-back if needed.
Ex-Manchester United academy graduate James arrived on a free from Wigan where he was released after an injury-ravaged career.
His hope was to prove his fitness and get game time on Wearside but he sadly picked up a groin injury which leaves him likely to miss the start of the season.
That leaves Sunderland with Donald Love, Adam Matthews and youngster Denver Hume to cover the full-back positions.
There is one other - Bryan Oviedo. A question mark hangs over his future.
He woud like to leave but there is little interest at this moment.
If he does depart then it is almost certain another full-back will be needed.
This is another position which will need strengthening if a sale happens.
Lee Cattermole would like to play his football elsewhere but again there is little interest to make that a reality.
He has featured regularly in preseason alongside new signing Dylan McGeouch.
Luke O’Nien has now also arrived to bolster the options but beyond those three it is just youngsters like Ethan Robson, Elliot Embleton and Bali Mumba. They are all capable but you feel if Cattermole was to get his wish for a move then another midfielder would be required.
Sunderland are known to be trying for a winger to replace Callum McManaman, who left for Wigan this summer.
Jordan Jones from Kilmarnock is their top target, although there are other options they are considering.
Ross likes to play with three forwards behind his central striker and likes to see plenty of flair, creativity and positivity from those.
The club have Lynden Gooch, George Honeyman, Chris Maguire and Aiden McGeady as naturals to fill any of the forward three roles.
Strikers Jerome Sinclair and Josh Maja have both proven able to drop into the role also.
Beyond that, youngsters Benjamin Kimpioka and Luke Molyneux are also quality options.
Stewart Donald has landed his top target but he knows that one more striker would be the ideal way to wrap up Sunderland’s business.
Just about every club in England so that would like a new striker that might not be easy to achieve but in securing the services of former Carlisle United and Bradford City ace Charlie Wyke, they can rest a little easier.
If Donald is to get another forward, Christian Doidge (Forest Green) and Eoin Doyle (Preston) have been mentioned.
The Wearsiders could also scour the loan market once the window shuts on August 9, if they do not find what they need.
EFL clubs can still sign players on loan up until August 31 and it is likely Premier League clubs will be more open to sanctioning loan deals after the window deadline passes and they have a clearer view of how their squad is shaped up.
Sunderland have Jerome Sinclair and Josh Maja in the senior squad, Andrew Nelson likely to go out on loan again after injury limited his impact in pre-season.
Beyond that, Ross experimented with the false nine in pre-season but preferably another new goalscorer will arrive before the transfer deadline on August 9.