00:00Preparations on Wearside are now fully underway for Sunderland's return to the Premier League.
00:06It will be the first time the Black Cats have played in England's top flight since 2017.
00:11And so, getting their summer right and bringing in the right type of player in the transfer market is vital for the potential survival of Sunderland in the Premier League.
00:22Let's not forget that for the last two seasons, all three promoted clubs have gone straight back down to the Championship.
00:28Sunderland do not want to suffer the same fate, but they know that because of their lack of experience in England's top flight, survival will not be easy.
00:37And therefore, navigating the transfer market this summer in the best way possible is of the utmost importance.
00:46Sunderland do have a model in place for their transfer recruitment policy in terms of bringing in young and exciting talent.
00:52and then developing them and making sure that they have a good career at Sunderland before potentially then moving them on for good transfer fees
01:00has certainly been demonstrated recently with the sale of Joe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund for a fee in excess of £30 million.
01:08So, who will be the next set of Sunderland players to enter the door at the Stadium of Light?
01:14Let's go now to James Copley of the Sunderland Echo to see what he thinks ahead of the summer transfer window.
01:21So, James, Sunderland of course, let's be honest, they need strength all over the pitch and they need depth all over the pitch as well.
01:28But where are the priorities for Sunderland to explore this summer?
01:33Because of course, in the PSR world like we live in, it's impossible to strengthen in every single position
01:39without breaking the bank and breaking the budgets that Sunderland will have as well.
01:44So, what needs to be looked at in terms of priorities for Sunderland with the likes of Christian Speakman,
01:49the Director of Football and of course, Regis Labrice looking ahead to what should be brought in this summer.
01:56Where should they be focusing their efforts across the squad to make sure that Sunderland do have a good chance of survival?
02:02Because of course, it's not just Sunderland, there'll be Leeds and Burnley as well who need to be doing similar things
02:07given their promotions to the Premier League as well.
02:10So, what can Sunderland be doing?
02:13Certainly, they've got two good strikers in Wilson Isidore and Liza Mayenda,
02:16but do they need more of a goal-scoring threat?
02:18And as well, with Chris Meppham going back to Bournemouth on loan, do they need some defensive cover as well?
02:23James, we'll come to you now to give us your thoughts on the transfer window.
02:27So, what they should look like come, as you say there, the 1st of September.
02:34So, I think this summer has the potential to be absolute chaos.
02:37I've written about this on the Sunderland website, but after Tommy Watson and Joe Bellingham,
02:41to my eye, I think there's 18 fringe Sunderland players that could leave, whether permanently or on loan.
02:47So, permanently, you're looking at the likes of Abdel Abad, Naz Roussin,
02:51other players as well on loan like Zach Johnson, Matty Young.
02:55So, there's a lot of business to be done.
02:57I think it's going to be very busy.
02:58There's going to be a lot of announcements.
03:00There's contract decisions to be sorted as well.
03:03Obviously, Dan Neal and Dennis Serkin are heading into their last years.
03:06Christian Speakman said he's going to be sorting those out soon.
03:09So, you'd like to see those get done nice and early.
03:12I would love both players to stay at the club.
03:14Obviously, Dennis Serkin joining the club in League One.
03:16Dan Neal coming up through the academy.
03:18First North East homegrown player to lift the trophy at Wembley for Sunderland since 1937.
03:24So, you hope those two bits of business get done.
03:27You hope all of the outgoing bits of business gets done so Sunderland can then manoeuvre in the transfer window.
03:33And then I think, obviously, you know, Eliza Mayenda and Wilson Isidore are really good up front for Sunderland in the championship.
03:39You'd back them to adapt it at the Premier League.
03:41But, with the Premier League being as uber competitive as it is, you'd want more goals in that Sunderland team.
03:46You mentioned Tommy Watson earlier.
03:48You'd need cover on the wings, I think, on both sides.
03:52Patrick Roberts has been a great player for Sunderland and I expect him to stay.
03:55But, is he going to play every Premier League game?
03:59Do you need, you know, maybe a younger understudy to come off the bench or challenge him?
04:02It hasn't worked out for Jan Pervader, has it?
04:04And I don't expect it to in the Premier League.
04:07Obviously, Watson's gone.
04:08So, that means Mundell's just on the left wing by himself as things stand.
04:12Joe Bellingham will need replacing.
04:15You know, there's talk about a few defensive additions as well.
04:20Obviously, Chris Meppin, will he join?
04:21If he doesn't, will Sunderland get somewhere else?
04:23So, the short answer to your question, Daniel, is that probably all over the pitch, Sunderland will need reinforcements.
04:30And that's just the reality of getting promoted to the Premier League through the playoffs is you don't have a lot of time to get things sorted.
04:39So, it's a very big, busy and interesting summer, I would say.
