Sunderland oversaw several player exits during the summer transfer window.
Sunderland were busy during the summer transfer window, especially towards the end.
In terms of incomings, nine new names arrived at the Stadium of Light, with Sunderland signing four players on deadline day alone.
Deadline day also saw the likes of Timothee Pembele join Le Havre on loan, whilst contested striker Luis Hemir sealed a shock loan move to Juventus.
The biggest, permanent player exit was Jack Clarke to Ipswich Town; it was reported that the Tractor Boys paid £20million in total, though Sunderland received an initial £13.5million for Clarke.
Elsewhere, Sunderland and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman looked to shed some deadwood from their first-team squad in the summer.
But the Black Cats were unable to offload French duo Abdoullah Ba and Adil Aouchiche.
It quickly became clear that the pair were unfavoured by Le Bris, with neither having started in the Championship this season.
Towards the end of the window, it was revealed that Aouchiche wanted to leave Sunderland.
Adil Aouchiche and Abdoullah Ba could’ve left Sunderland in the summer
Speaking ahead of the weekend clash vs Middlesbrough, Le Bris gave an update on the likes of Ba and Aouchiche amid their respective exiles from first-team action.
Ba is yet to feature in the Championship this season and hasn’t been named in any of the last three matchday squads now.
Aouchiche came off the bench during the 4-0 win vs Sheffield Wednesday but hasn’t been in a matchday squad since.
Le Bris told The Northern Echo: “Adil and Abdoullah are with us until the next transfer window, so they have my trust as players of Sunderland and players who have qualities to play and perform in the game.
“Because they had the opportunity to leave, they needed to reconnect to the project and I like their behaviour in the training sessions this week.”
- READ MORE: Sunderland rank 20th in the world for one thing right now, Kristjaan Speakman will be buzzing
Ruthless Regis Le Bris has Sunderland back on track
Last season, be it because of a lack of options or poor management, the likes of Ba in particular kept on getting chances.
Sunderland fans were often unimpressed with Ba, whilst Aouchiche showed the odd glimpse of quality, albeit without blowing anyone away.
Since Sunderland appointed Le Bris in the summer, he’s been quick to make his mind up on certain players, with Speakman no doubt bolstering positions that Le Bris suggested.
Now after five games of the season and with the Ba and Aouchiche nowhere to be seen, it strongly suggests that the pair are well out of favour, and likely to be sold in a January.
It’s interesting that the pair had opportunities to leave in the summer; whether they opted against so, or whether it was the club, remains to be seen.
But Le Bris looks set to be fair and give either player their chance to regain a place in the team.
Though with Sunderland in fine form without either Ba or Aouchiche in the side, it’s hard to envision either player playing much before January.
Sunderland host Middlesbrough in the Championship this weekend.