Sunderland have been praised by journalist Michael Graham following two ‘hugely encouraging’ bits of news this summer.
It’s been a turbulent 2024 for Sunderland, which saw previous manager Michael Beale sacked after just 12 games in charge, with interim boss Mike Dodds then overseeing a hugely disappointing 16th place finish in the Championship.
There was four months between Beale’s sacking and Sunderland’s appointment of Regis Le Bris, who in his four pre-season games so far has given fans reason to believe that his Sunderland side will be more attacking and entertaining.
And sporting director Kristjaan Speakman appears to be hard at work on signing a new striker after two year of no.9 woes, with Sunderland trying to sign Alexandre Mendy from Caen.
Whilst there’s plenty of work to do before the start of the new season, there’s definitely been some positive signs off the pitch this summer.
Sunderland and Kristjaan Speakman praised over new contracts for Dan Ballard and Chris Rigg
One of the main objectives for Sunderland and Speakman this summer was finalising the future of Chris Rigg.
Rigg had interest from a number of Premier League teams but committed his future to Sunderland, signing his first professional contract with the club on a deal until 2027.
Earlier this week, Dan Ballard signed a new Sunderland contract, extending his deal by one year to 2027.
It comes after what’s been a tough spell for Speakman who’s faced criticism from Sunderland fans for the club’s mixed results in the transfer market and then the prolonged search for a new manager.
But Michael Graham has heaped praise on Speakman following the recent news of Ballard, posting on X:
Kristjaan Speakman can make Sunderland amends by doing one thing
Speakman still has a lot of making up to do with Sunderland fans, and if next season under Le Bris doesn’t work out then Speakman may be the first to come under the spotlight.
But Le Bris and Sunderland can succeed in the 2024/25 Championship season; if the Black Cats manage their outgoing players properly and if Speakman can sign a prolific striker or two.
A prolific striker may have made last season a lot more bearable for Sunderland fans, but Speakman continues to fall short in that area of the transfer market.
If a deal for Mendy can go through soon then it’ll give Le Bris the chance to have a proper look at him in pre-season, and it’ll give Mendy time to bed into the team.
Right now though, a deal on that front seems complicated. But like Graham says, Speakman is due praise for certain moves so far this summer.