adminThings have been quiet on Wearside so far this summer, with Thomas Meunier the sole new face to arrive and a number of fringe players heading out.
While some fans have voiced mild frustration over the lack of activity, a slower start was always expected given the World Cup schedule.
More importantly, Sunderland have managed to hold onto their key men in the opening weeks of the window—unlike certain Premier League rivals (no names mentioned) who are currently undergoing major overhauls.
Retaining Granit Xhaka will prove more valuable than any new signing this summer, and the Swiss international has shared an emotional message ahead of his return to pre-season training.
Still on holiday following World Cup duty, the midfielder has expressed his eagerness for the season ahead—sure to reignite enthusiasm among supporters.
In a social media post, Xhaka wrote: “One year already. Time really flies. Looking back, it’s incredible what we’ve built together in such a short time. Grateful for every challenge, every lesson, and every unforgettable moment. Ready for another season. Let’s make it even bigger.”
It’s the perfect boost ahead of what promises to be an exciting campaign—one that could have looked very different had Sunderland not moved swiftly.
New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso attempted to sign the 33-year-old earlier in the window, launching a poor bid for the Black Cats’ star. Despite talk of a renewed offer, Sunderland’s captain made it clear he has unfinished business on Wearside.
As Régis Le Bris put it during the club’s pre-season tour in the US: “Case closed.” The focus now is firmly on strengthening the squad for their upcoming European adventure—a sentence that still feels surreal to write.
From the lows of League One and the Papa John’s Trophy to potentially facing some of Europe’s elite. With Xhaka leading them into that competition, Sunderland stand a strong chance of going deep.
Yes, more additions are needed, but they’re in a solid position in the transfer market. Talks continue with Toulouse for full-back Dayann Methalie—one of French football’s brightest prospects—alongside other targets.
Fans shouldn’t read too much into the silence, especially given how many signings came out of nowhere last summer.
There may be fewer arrivals this time, but the club are keeping their targets under wraps, well aware of how easily deals can be hijacked nowadays.
Of course, Sunderland could still lose one or two stars if bigger clubs come knocking, but Le Bris insists his players believe there’s more to achieve on Wearside.
“I believe that our players are not in a situation where they feel that it’s the end of the story,” he said. “We still have many things to develop here, they still have another step, another goal to achieve with the second season in the Premier League which is already a massive challenge.
Then, we are associated with two domestic cups and the Europa League so it’s exciting. I repeat, the connection within the squad is really strong, they enjoy to be with each other, so it’s a really good platform to keep developing and to enjoy their life as a footballer.
It’s not the end of the story, I repeat, and I’m really confident about the idea to have more or less the same core with a few signings to help the squad.”
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