Sunderland have been told that their current transfer strategy won’t see the club promoted to the Premier League.
Sunderland have brought in new boss Regis Le Bris ahead of the 2024/25 Championship season as a result of his talent of getting the best out of young players.
The Frenchman was involved in the Lorient youth coaching set-up for over a decade before he was given the role as first team coach for the French side.
Sunderland targeted Le Bris as a result of having a squad with the average age of 23, one which struggled last season as they finished in a lowly 16th place.
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Kristjaan Speakman has since added to the squad with experienced Championship players Simon Moore and Alan Browne, however the youth players in Wearside still remain top priority, with Moore being utilised in a mentoring role for young goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.
Sunderland have stuck to their philosophy of prioritising the young players in the squad, which ex-Sunderland player Don Goodman has since criticised.
Don Goodman on Sunderland philosophy ‘they will stick with’
Former Sunderland striker Goodman has commented on Sunderland’s transfer philosophy and recent managerial decisions.
Speaking to Sunderland Echo, Goodman said: “Sunderland have their philosophy and it appears that they will stick with it come hell or high water.
“No matter what, they are going to stick with the policy of buying young, developing, selling and going again.
“They gambled by sacking Tony Mowbray and it failed. They gambled on Mick Beale and it failed. They even gambled by leaving Mike Dodds in charge for the rest of the season and it failed. It’s a big mess.
“Sunderland is a huge club, it’s a club that I love and it has a huge place in my heart. But sticking to their philosophy is going to keep them away from the Premier League, as far as I’m concerned.”
Sunderland manager Le Bris has since spoken about his role to be ‘efficient in developing a team’, which could suggest that Kyril Louis-Dreyfus will look to continue with their philosophy.
Should Sunderland abandon their philosophy of signing young players
Sunderland have managed to secure the futures of 17-year-old Chris Rigg, who signed his first professional contract at the club, as well as Jobe Bellingham, who expressed his desire to stay on Wearside for the 2024/25 Championship campaign, both of which were key players last season.
A lot of the value in Sunderland’s squad comes from their younger players, including the likes of Jack Clarke, Patterson, and Bellingham, who would warrant a high price-tag, should they be sold.
In terms of running the club financially, the philosophy has sustained the club and looks set to have given them good financial stability ahead of the new campaign, however any desire to reach the Premier League in their current state would be slightly too far-fetched.
Balancing youth signings with Championship experience could give Sunderland the best chance of looking to gain promotion, something which seems they are in the opening stages of with their recent signings.
However, multiple new faces will be needed on Wearside ahead of the new campaign, especially Championship leaders, something which at this moment in time is unlikely to come into fruition.