Sources reveal how close Sunderland are to breaching financial rules after Dayann Methalie deal
Sunderland supporters have been forced to endure a rather different summer transfer window to their first back in the Premier League.
Regis Le Bris added 15 players to his squad ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, including the likes of Habib Diarra, Brian Brobbey and Granit Xhaka.
However, this time around, following Dayann Methalie's arrival on a £25.6million deal, the Black Cats have only signed one other player - Thomas Meunier.
This has left many supporters surprised, given that their squad will be playing Europa League football, and stretching the team to its limits.
Sunderland still have plans for transfers in the final few days of the summer window, but time is running out before the new campaign kicks off.
The Black Cats will hope to get their season firing with a trip to Ipswich Town on the opening day, but the club's finances are a major talking point at this moment in time.
Sunderland's SCR standpoint ahead of 2026-27
With Meunier arriving on a free transfer, Methalie is the only player who Le Bris' side have paid a fee for, but this is 12 months on from an eye-watering summer of spending.
Now, sources have insisted to iNews (17 August) that the Black Cats are not close to breaching SCR limits, but are still being "mindful" of the rules.
An eye is also being kept on the number of homegrown players in the squad, with Sunderland wanting to add two more to thw squad this summer.
Chelsea, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest have all faced the wrath of breaking UEFA's rules in recent weeks, being hit with differing fines.
The Black Cats, clearly, are not concerned about the same outcome, and understandably so, having only splashed the cash on one signing so far.
Black Cats face further issues off the pitch
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus will likely be more concerned by the situation off the pitch, though, with a key sponsorship deal yet to be struck at the Stadium of Light.
Multiple clubs have failed to secure a new front-of-shirt sponsor for the new season, and the Black Cats are one of them currently.
Speaking to Football Insider, Stefan Borson described this as a "dire" situation, one which could lead to a "massive loss of revenue".
Time is running out to strike a deal before the new season kicks off. While some fans may like the kit without a sponsor, it has huge repercussions for the club's off-pitch status.