Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris has discussed the January transfer window, which opens in less than two months now.
Coventry City marks the first of 10 games standing between Sunderland and the January transfer window, and between Sunderland and 2025.
The January transfer window will bring to an end what’s been a turbulent 2024 for the Black Cats; a year full of highs an lows, but most importantly, ending on a high.
Regis Le Bris currently has Sunderland in 1st place of the Championship table. Sunderland drew 0-0 with Preston in midweek but now take on a managerless Sky Blues, after Coventry City sacked Mark Robins in the week.
Over the next few weeks, we may start to see some cracks emerge in the Sunderland first-team squad.
January will, of course, be a vital refuelling point for the Black Cats in their quest for promotion, as it will be for all teams in the division.
But Le Bris doesn’t expect anything too drastic during January.
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Regis Le Bris explains Sunderland’s January transfer plans so far
Speaking to The Northern Echo, Le Bris has explained how he and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman are regularly holding transfer conversations at the Stadium of Light ahead of January.
But the Frenchman isn’t expecting any wholesale changes to his side in the New Year. He said: “We have talks every day now.
“We are having those discussions, although it is really still too early to define our expectations about what might happen during the next transfer window.
“We are still learning about the team and the squad every day, and we still need to find out the true potential of the team that we have. We have had many surprises so far, so we will see.
“The core of the group is very strong. The experience is there, and the connections between the players are becoming stronger and stronger.
“If we have to add another player to the team, then it has to be right choice, and we are certainly not in a rush at the minute. It doesn’t feel like we need to make big changes, but we will see.”
Sunderland have already been handed a huge January boost
Sunderland still have a number of players to return to action in the New Year; Salis Abdul Samed, Ahmed Abdullahi, Jenson Seelt, Aji Alese, and Ian Poveda too.
Those returning players could be like new signings in themselves, then there’s also Milan Aleksic who is yet to make his debut.
So it’s understandable that Le Bris and Speakman think there won’t be massive changes. But these next few weeks, when players start to fatigue and weak spots start to open up, will highlight any positions for Sunderland to bolster.
It’s clear that the club are ready to go out and bolster if they need to, and it looks highly likely that we’ll see at least one or two signings, possibly loans, but nothing major at all.
Player departures may be Sunderland’s biggest fear, and Chris Rigg may be the one that the hierarchy are most fearful of losing.
But Gary Neville recently handed a transfer boost to Sunderland, suggesting that United may not, and should not do any transfer business until next summer, following the change in managers.
He said recently: “I would not change anything in the January transfer window. The new manager should be made to work with these players.”