‘Sunderland are ready to spend big – this will not be like Norwich’
Sunderland’s return to the Premier League has been a long time coming, with the Stadium of Light faithful gearing up for their first campaign in the top flight since 2016-17.
Promotion via the Championship play-off final at Wembley last month, where they came from behind to beat Sheffield United 2-1, marked the end of what has been a rocky road for the Black Cats.
Despite finishing the season in fourth place – some 14 points behind the Blades in third – goals from Eliezer Mayenda and a dramatic winner from 19-year-old Tommy Watson secured their place in next season’s top flight.
Ahead of what could be a busy summer at the Stadium of Light, manager Regis Le Bris will be hoping significant transfer funds will be made available by majority shareholder Kyril Louis-Dreyfus.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – has insisted the young chairman will fulfil his manager’s wishes.
‘Sunderland owners know they have a big asset on their hands’
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness claimed Sunderland, alongside last season’s Championship winners Leeds United, will do everything in their power to avoid a relegation struggle next term.
The Black Cats have earned a guaranteed £160million after achieving promotion.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points |
| 1 | Leeds (C) | 46 | 29 | 13 | 4 | 100 |
| 2 | Burnley (P) | 46 | 28 | 16 | 2 | 100 |
| 3 | Sheffield United | 46 | 28 | 8 | 10 | 90 |
| 4 | Sunderland (P) | 46 | 21 | 13 | 12 | 76 |
| 5 | Coventry | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 69 |
| 6 | Bristol City | 46 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 68 |
However, Wyness insisted Sunderland will not simply bank the money from promotion – like Norwich or Luton – but will make a real go of staying in the top flight.
He told Football Insider: “It’s going to be fascinating next year, but I think certainly Leeds and Sunderland are going to push the boat out and spend big.
“Leeds are (also) going to push and push. They don’t just need the money for one season to try and rebuild the finances of the club like Norwich has done before. They’re going to give this a go.
“I think we’re going to see both clubs in the transfer market looking for quality players, and the Sunderland fans will get behind them.
“They’re going to have the youngest chairman in the league. He’s 27, which is rather young for a Premier League chairman. They always say you feel old when you think policemen are getting younger. I’m seeing Premier League chairman at his age – it’s going to be interesting.
“He comes from a football family, while the other shareholder (Juan Sartori) is also a very experienced businessman. They know they’ve got a big asset in Sunderland.
“They (Sunderland and Leeds) are the two clubs that I really think have got a chance of staying up. Of all the three clubs coming up, I’ll be surprised if they are on the list of those the bookies think are going back down again.”
Henderson would ‘transform’ Sunderland dressing room
Among the names linked with a move to Sunderland this summer, one in particular has captured the imagination of Black Cats supporters everywhere.
Jordan Henderson has been backed to make a sensational return to his boyhood club, and former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson claimed the current Ajax midfielder would have a huge impact on Wearside.
He told Football Insider: “Look at how young that dressing room is and how young the squad is, the experience he would bring into that would be a welcome addition. We know he’s a cult hero in the North East and he would be welcomed back with open arms.”
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