Sunderland's biggest challenge in the summer transfer window will be 'maintaining the level of quality' as they look for signings that can build on this season's success, according to Kristjaan Speakman. The Black Cats won promotion from League One 12 months ago and made an immediate impact on their return to the Championship, finishing sixth and earning a play-off place.
They were aided by loan players such as Amad and Edouard Michut, who have since returned to Manchester United and Paris St-Germain respectively, along with permanent signings such as Jack Clarke, Dan Ballard, Aji Alese, and Pierre Ekwah, all of whom were hits. But the season - and the injuries suffered along the way - also exposed deficiencies in the squad, with no direct replacement for star striker Ross Stewart who spent almost three quarters of the campaign on the sidelines, while they lacked cover for influential holding midfielder Corry Evans, and they ended with no specialist centre-backs.
Those areas will be among those the club is looking to strengthen, but sporting director Speakman says they will only bring in players of equal or better quality than those who arrived last summer as they look to improve on last season's performance. "We'll go into the transfer window as we always do, trying to evolve and improve the team," Speakman told the club's Youtube channel.
