Sunderland told to pull the plug on excessive January spending by finance expert
Sunderland could afford to spend again in the January transfer window, but the Black Cats must be mindful of the impact that could have in the long-term.
That is according to football finance expert Dr Dan Plumley who exclusively told Football Insider the position Sunderland will go into the January market financially following a positive Premier League campaign so far.
Sunderland’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal currently has the Wearside club in the top four and the Champions League places, in their first season back in the top flight for eight years.
Granit Xhaka was one of Sunderland’s biggest signings in the summer transfer window, as the club spent £155million on 14 new players.
Sunderland have ‘a bit of cushion to work with in January’
Sunderland may want to spend again in January to further bolster their squad, and speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Plumley states that the club must think about future implications to big spending.
“I think that they have to look at the long term, definitely. Every club should, that is my view,” Plumley said.
“But if you look at the parameters of the short term, they’ve obviously, you know, achieved above expectations at the minute in terms of where they thought they would be.
“And that means that it probably gives them a bit of a cushion to work within January assuming this carries on.
“You know, that there might be a dip in form. You don’t go too far down that table, but they’ve been flying so far.
“And then it’s about what’s next for them. We know history tells us that second season syndrome is a possibility, and, again, they’ll be mindful of that.
“So I think anything they’ll look to do in January, yes, you’ve got to be mindful of the regulations but they’re in a really good spot against those just because they’ve not been in the league for a long time and the sales they made in the summer.
“You have to be mindful of that, but this is about the way they behave in January now and where they are in the league table will be about planning for the next three, four, five years.
“That’s the kind of headspace that I think they’ll be getting into.”
Sunderland lining up Sidiki Cherif move
Football Insider exclusively revealed that one player Sunderland could sign is Angers forward Sidiki Cherif in January.
Newcastle and Fulham are fellow Premier League club’s also monitoring the 18-year-old, who has scored three goals in 12 Ligue 1 appearances this season.
The Frenchman’s contract at Angers does not expire until 2028, but scouts are watching Wilson Isidor who could leave Sunderland amid his good start to the campaign.