One of Sunderland’s most expensive signings of all-time remains without a club following his summer release.
Sunderland spent their share of money during the summer window, with owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus breaking his own spending record on deadline day.
The signing of Milan Aleksic marked Louis-Dreyfus’ most expensive signing since arriving at the Stadium of Light in early 2021.
He was one of nine players to arrive at the club during the summer and one of three who the club spent money on, with the Black Cats paying a loan fee for Wilson Isidor.
Kristjaan Speakman is being praised for his good work in the summer transfer window this year. But the club’s transfer habits now are wildly different compared to years gone by.
Just 10 years ago, Sunderland were in the Premier League and spending big money; the 2014/15 Premier League season saw the Black Cats spend little over £20million.
And one player who arrived during that summer’s transfer window is currently a free agent.
Jack Rodwell remains free agent after Sydney FC release
In August 2014, Sunderland signed Jack Rodwell from Manchester City for a reported fee of £10million, making the three-cap former England man the marquee signing of that season.
But Sunderland would be another club where Rodwell failed to fulfil his potential, making 76 total appearances in four years and scoring seven goals.
The now 33-year-old couldn’t reach the potential he promised when breaking through at Everton as a youngster.
Injury also curtailed his time at the Stadium of Light, which ended when the club terminated his contract in 2018.
Since then, Rodwell has played or Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield United, Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC, being released by the latter in May this year.
Rodwell remains without a club.
Sunderland spending is massively improved under Kyril Louis-Dreyfus
Looking back to that era at Sunderland when dumb money was being spent on the likes of Rodwell and many others, it marks a stark contrast to the Sunderland of today.
Speakman and Louis-Dreyfus have really set Sunderland apart with their transfer business; buying young, and cheap, and selling high, as was the case with Jack Clarke’s sale to Ipswich Town.
And Sunderland have made the whole model work by giving players gametime needed to become valuable assets, with this current first-team squad full of players who could one day command huge transfer fees.
Sunderland are on the up for sure.