Sunderland were very active during the summer transfer window.
Sunderland saw plenty of players come and go during the summer transfer window.
In total, Kristjaan Speakman welcomed nine new players to the Stadium of Light, with four of those arriving on deadline day.
But there was also some focus on player exits with Speakman seemingly accepting the fate of some of previous his signings.
There were reports going into deadline day that a number of players were up for grabs, with Adil Aouchiche pushing for a Sunderland exit.
Aouchiche was one who couldn’t get his move. But fellow Frenchman Timothee Pembele sealed a deadline loan move to Le Havre.
Former PSG man Pembele joined Sunderland last summer but managed just eight Championship appearances last season, with injury and poor form keeping him out of the first-team picture.
Timothee Pembele discusses Sunderland summer exit
Speaking to French outlet Paris Normandie, 22-year-old right-back Pembele has discussed his maiden season with Sunderland and in England.
And he outlined his desire to leave the club during the summer transfer window just gone, whilst also voicing his discontent about last season.
Pembele said: “Humanly and sportingly, I am coming out of a difficult season.
“I arrived very late, and I never managed to catch up. The coach never trusted me.
“And the arrival this summer of Régis Le Bris has not changed anything in my situation. So, I preferred to go on loan.”
Pembele added: “I’ve only been here [Le Havre] a little over a week and I’m feeling fulfilled again.”
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Ruthless Regis Le Bris has given Sunderland just what they needed
Sunderland were a mess last season.
Pembele played under three different managers in Tony Mowbray, Michael Beale, and Mike Dodds, so it’s no surprise that he couldn’t settle, and no surprise the team did poorly.
But Sunderland’s appointment of Le Bris in the summer gave the club and the players a clean sweep.
From his press conferences, it’s obvious that Le Bris is a calm and thoughtful manager, but that he boasts a definite ruthless streak too; which is necessary in management and which is what Sunderland lacked last season.
And it’s evident in some of the club’s summer business with Pembele moving on, despite the club not having many options at right-back.
If Pembele was unhappy, then it’s better for everyone involved that he moves on, and now it’s down to him to decipher where he wants his future to lie.
After this interview, though, it may be that he’s played his last game for Sunderland.