Sunderland fans will be hoping for a busy summer of transfers this season as the club look to strengthen upon promotion to the Championship. The step up from League One is a big one and it cannot be done effectively without personnel improvements during the summer, meaning swift and decisive spending is vital.
Keeping hold of in-demand players is just as important as signing new ones, especially for sides like Sunderland, Wigan Athletic and Rotherham - the three promoted teams will have a gruelling summer ahead as they look to bolster their squads while fending off interest for some of their key assets.
The mood around the Stadium of Light is one of impatience. If the club fail to act quickly and get the ball rolling, they will be left panicking towards the end of the window and bringing players in too late to be integrated with pre-season training - the sheer number of signings needed will also add to the anxiety. But how have the Black Cats fared at this early juncture compared to their fellow promoted sides?
