Sunderland have signed three new players so far this summer.
Kristjaan Speakman has bolstered the Sunderland first-team squad with some much-needed Championship experience this summer.
Simon Moore and Alan Browne were the first two signings before Sunderland signed Ian Poveda following his Leeds United release earlier in the summer.
The trio, Browne in particular, add Championship experience and expertise to the Sunderland ranks, which is something Michael Beale and Mike Dodds said the side lacked last time round.
Now, the challenge is finding a new striker, with Sunderland target Alexandre Mendy someone of great interest to Speakman right now.
Still, expect Speakman and Sunderland to keep an eye on other positions, and any young gems that might crop up and become available to the Black Cats.
One such player is Elias Lenz; the German midfielder has recently signed a two-year deal following his release by Red Bull Leipzig earlier this summer.
Previously, Lenz was on trial at Sunderland, who handed the central midfielder his debut in a recent U21s clash vs Hebburn Town.
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How did Elias Lenz fare on his Sunderland debut
Graeme Murty’s Sunderland U21s beat Hebburn 2-1 in a friendly clash on Thursday evening, with Ben Middlemas and Trey Ogunsuyi on target for the young Black Cats.
Lenz played the game in the centre of midfield, and by all accounts he enjoyed a very strong debut for the club’s U21s.
Journalist Jame Copley watched the game and gave his verdict on the 18-year-old, who was previously an RB Leipzig youth captain:
Will Elias Lenz play for the Sunderland first-team in 2024/25
Lenz remains a very inexperienced player, and someone who’s just left his home county to move to a new one, so there’s definitely patience needed.
But settling into the rhythm of the U21s so quickly, and earning such impressive reviews certainly suggests that he’s a player who could soon be knocking on the door of the first-team.
And there’s a definite path between the youth and first-team team at Sunderland with the likes of Anthony Patterson, Dan Neil, and Chris Rigg having all made the step up in recent seasons.
So for Lenz, the pathway is clear, and all he has to do is keep impressing like he did against Hebburn, and a spot in the first-team may soon open up.
With midfield departures possible at Sunderland this summer, Pierre Ekwah is now linked with Leicester City, Lenz could be biding his time before making his first-team debut for the Black Cats.