• The forums will be unavailable for a few hours on Saturday 6th June, when they do return they will initially be in a degraded state with some features missing, but normal posting/reading will be possible. The main website will not be affected by these updates.
    New user registrations are currently disabled.
    Some other features of the forum are also currently disabled.

Predict a signing

Looking at transfermarket, looks as if Kamada of Crystal Palace is out of contract. Could be worth a look. Think we will sign an Asian player this window.
 

Mane from Wolves would be my suggestion, but as he is already based in England and has played in the Prem, he'll come at a higher price than a similar player from any ither euro league.
 
Now that we have Europa League, it's probably going to be a busier summer than if we hadn't qualified. Previous comments from Le Bris suggested 3 or 4 incomings but have a feeling it might be 7 or 8 in reality, and likely higher quality.
Not even possible. :cool:
We're already by far the greatest team...
 
Think people might be disappointed by the transfer window this year. Not as many dopamine hits.. I also think (disappoitingly) we may see one of Sadiki or Roefs leave to fund our spend.
Agree, it makes sense for at least one to go for necessary financial headroom.

Would be quite smart if we could sell Roefs for £50m+ and replace with James Trafford for £25-30m. Another homegrown player, a great keeper and the profit would really help fund other areas of the squad.

If not Trafford, I think his replacement would be Mike Penders.
 
Not Hume, it’s only England and Wales academies. I don’t think Mayenda will ever qualify but the rules have been applied a bit inconsistently so might. O’Nien is homegrown.
Aye but we signed him young enough that he spent 3 years with us before turning 21 didn’t we? Same with Mayenda.

Probably confusing it, but isn’t it that we need 4 players that we have produced, and 4 players that were on our books for 3 years before they turned 21?

I think that Liverpool lad who has spent the season warming the bench at Villa could be a good shout provided the price is now right.
 
Last edited:
Aye but we signed him young enough that he spent 3 years with us before turning 21 didn’t we? Same with Mayenda.

Probably confusing it, but isn’t it that we need 4 players that we have produced, and 4 players that were on our books for 3 years before they turned 21?
No, he was already 19 when we signed him. Mayenda misses out by a matter of weeks I think as you have to be here three years before end of the season you turn 21. For Mayenda that’s this year and it’s short of three calendar years by a few weeks. Some inconsistencies in how that’s applied though so he might just sneak in.
 
Now that we have Europa League, it's probably going to be a busier summer than if we hadn't qualified. Previous comments from Le Bris suggested 3 or 4 incomings but have a feeling it might be 7 or 8 in reality, and likely higher quality.

Predict a signing this summer. It may feel difficult to anticipate the plans of our recruitment team when so many signings last summer (Roefs, Sadiki, Alderete) were relative unknowns to most. Will revisit in August and any correct guesses will be bumped and lauded.

Not who you want to sign (it won't be Amad), but who you can imagine Ghisolfi targeting. There are a lot of players out there that feel very Sunderland-coded and realistic.

I am convinced we will be looking to sign Samu Costa from Mallorca. They have been relegated from La Liga but he is a quality midfielder. Warrior type but also chipped in with 7 goals this season. Made the Portugal squad for this summer. Would complement Xhaka well and be an amazing rotation option with Sadiki if he stays. Only 25 and with Mallorca going down, probably gettable for £12-15m.

Arthur Avom (previous interest) is probably on the radar on a free transfer from Lorient. With Europe and Xhaka's age, we will realistically need 6 CMs capable of starting next season, so that one is a no brainer if Lorient don't extend.

Konstantin Tyukavin, 23, Dynamo Moscow

61 goals in 182 appearances for DM since making his debut for the senior side at age 18 in the 2020-21 season.
13 goals in 31 appearances for DM in the 2025-26 season.
2 goals in 9 appearances for the Russian national team.

Turns 24 in about a month.

BHH

You must be logged on to see media items
 
Aye but we signed him young enough that he spent 3 years with us before turning 21 didn’t we? Same with Mayenda.

Probably confusing it, but isn’t it that we need 4 players that we have produced, and 4 players that were on our books for 3 years before they turned 21?

I think that Liverpool lad who has spent the season warming the bench at Villa could be a good shout provided the price is now right.
Think it’s eight in total, four own academy produced and four more homegrown from English or Welsh academies. ( for Europa). For premier it’s easier to read as a maximum of 17 players that are over 21 and not homegrown.
 
I’m still fascinated as to how we will handle the homegrown issue. In the next 18 months we need to have some kind of pipeline, and with the odd exception (Young, Finn….) there isn’t a hugely obvious candidate from the academy

I wonder if we will look at the relegated clubs for a bargain there (Bueno maybe), or even someone like Morton from Lyon
Marcus Neill will be on that will be brought through more i reckon. Cup games
 
---------------------------------------

transfer shortlist per position

Here’s a realistic Europa League–level Sunderland shortlist, built around the idea of a club that has just finished 7th in the Premier League, wants to push toward top 6, and is targeting under-25 high-upside players who are actually plausible to sign (not fantasy Galácticos).
I’ll structure it by position and keep it focused on players who fit:
  • stepping-stone clubs
  • non-elite leagues
  • or “talented but not nailed-on starters” at bigger clubs


🧤 Goalkeeper (competition / future #1)​

🇧🇪 Maarten Vandevoordt (RB Leipzig / ex-Genk)​

  • Age: 23
  • Elite shot-stopping upside
  • Has been “next big GK” in Belgium for years
  • Could still be obtainable if not first-choice

🇫🇷 Guillaume Restes (Toulouse FC)​

  • Age: 20
  • One of France’s best young keepers
  • Modern sweeper-keeper profile
  • Would be a statement signing

🛡️ Centre-Backs​

🇳🇱 Jorrel Hato (AFC Ajax)​

  • Age: 18–20
  • Left-footed, elite ball-playing CB/LB hybrid
  • One of Europe’s most in-demand defenders
  • Expensive but exactly “top-6 trajectory”

🇩🇪 Max Rosenfelder (SC Freiburg)​

  • Age: 21–22
  • Strong Bundesliga defender profile
  • Physical, disciplined, underrated

🇫🇷 Castello Lukeba (RB Leipzig)​

  • Age: 22
  • Already top-level Bundesliga CB
  • Could move if not cemented starter

🏃 Full-Backs​

🇵🇹 Tiago Santos (LOSC Lille)​

  • Age: 22
  • High-energy attacking RB
  • Perfect Premier League profile

🇪🇸 Álvaro Carreras (Benfica)​

  • Age: 21–22
  • Aggressive, technical LB
  • Developed at Manchester United system

🇫🇷 Sacha Boey (Bayern Munich)​

  • Age: 24
  • If not fully established at Bayern, becomes a market opportunity
  • Elite 1v1 defending + pace

⚙️ Defensive Midfielders​

🇩🇪 Tom Bischof (TSG Hoffenheim)​

  • Age: 19–20
  • One of Germany’s best young midfielders
  • Press-resistant, creative pivot

🇨🇿 Pavel Šulc (Viktoria Plzeň)​

  • Age: 23–24
  • High-output box-to-box profile
  • Underrated European League performer

🇧🇪 Arthur Vermeeren (Atlético Madrid)​

  • Age: 20
  • Elite tactical DM/CM hybrid
  • Could be available if not breaking into XI

🎯 Central Midfield (creative / box-to-box)​

🇳🇱 Kenneth Taylor (Ajax)​

  • Age: 22–23
  • Creative midfield engine
  • Proven in European competitions

🇫🇷 Lesley Ugochukwu (Chelsea)​

  • Age: 21
  • Physical, progressive midfielder
  • Often available on loan or permanent if blocked

🇩🇰 Morten Frendrup (Genoa)​

  • Age: 23
  • One of Serie A’s best ball-winners
  • Perfect “Premier League engine” CM

⚡ Wingers (key area for Europa League push)​

🇧🇷 Savinho (Manchester City / Girona loan system)​

  • Age: 20
  • Elite dribbler, high ceiling
  • Often moved within City Football Group structure

🇫🇷 Amine Adli (Bayer Leverkusen)

  • Age: 23–24
  • Pressing winger, technical, goal threat

🇳🇱 Johan Bakayoko (PSV)​

  • Age: 21–22
  • Explosive right winger
  • Already producing in Europe

🇵🇹 Francisco Conceição (Porto)​

  • Age: 21–22
  • Elite 1v1 winger
  • High intensity, Premier League ready

🎯 Strikers​

🇸🇪 Viktor Gyökeres-type (if not elite move already completed)​

  • Age: 25 (slightly over but relevant archetype)
  • Physical, high-output striker profile
  • These are the players Sunderland should replicate in scouting

🇩🇰 Conrad Harder (Sporting CP)​

  • Age: 19–20
  • High-upside striker prospect
  • Perfect “develop into £70m asset” profile

🇫🇷 Elye Wahi (Marseille/Lens trajectory)​

  • Age: 21–22
  • Pace + finishing + volatility
  • Classic Premier League breakout candidate

🇩🇪 Maximilian Beier (Hoffenheim)​

  • Age: 21–23
  • Pressing forward, intelligent movement
  • Very modern striker profile
 
The thing I love is I have the utmost confidence in our recruitment team to have some eye on some absolute gems. We have the pull and likely funds to make our squad much stronger. Just have to keep the core together
 
---------------------------------------

transfer shortlist per position

Here’s a realistic Europa League–level Sunderland shortlist, built around the idea of a club that has just finished 7th in the Premier League, wants to push toward top 6, and is targeting under-25 high-upside players who are actually plausible to sign (not fantasy Galácticos).
I’ll structure it by position and keep it focused on players who fit:
  • stepping-stone clubs
  • non-elite leagues
  • or “talented but not nailed-on starters” at bigger clubs


🧤 Goalkeeper (competition / future #1)​

🇧🇪 Maarten Vandevoordt (RB Leipzig / ex-Genk)​

  • Age: 23
  • Elite shot-stopping upside
  • Has been “next big GK” in Belgium for years
  • Could still be obtainable if not first-choice

🇫🇷 Guillaume Restes (Toulouse FC)​

  • Age: 20
  • One of France’s best young keepers
  • Modern sweeper-keeper profile
  • Would be a statement signing

🛡️ Centre-Backs​

🇳🇱 Jorrel Hato (AFC Ajax)​

  • Age: 18–20
  • Left-footed, elite ball-playing CB/LB hybrid
  • One of Europe’s most in-demand defenders
  • Expensive but exactly “top-6 trajectory”

🇩🇪 Max Rosenfelder (SC Freiburg)​

  • Age: 21–22
  • Strong Bundesliga defender profile
  • Physical, disciplined, underrated

🇫🇷 Castello Lukeba (RB Leipzig)​

  • Age: 22
  • Already top-level Bundesliga CB
  • Could move if not cemented starter

🏃 Full-Backs​

🇵🇹 Tiago Santos (LOSC Lille)​

  • Age: 22
  • High-energy attacking RB
  • Perfect Premier League profile

🇪🇸 Álvaro Carreras (Benfica)​

  • Age: 21–22
  • Aggressive, technical LB
  • Developed at Manchester United system

🇫🇷 Sacha Boey (Bayern Munich)​

  • Age: 24
  • If not fully established at Bayern, becomes a market opportunity
  • Elite 1v1 defending + pace

⚙️ Defensive Midfielders​

🇩🇪 Tom Bischof (TSG Hoffenheim)​

  • Age: 19–20
  • One of Germany’s best young midfielders
  • Press-resistant, creative pivot

🇨🇿 Pavel Šulc (Viktoria Plzeň)​

  • Age: 23–24
  • High-output box-to-box profile
  • Underrated European League performer

🇧🇪 Arthur Vermeeren (Atlético Madrid)​

  • Age: 20
  • Elite tactical DM/CM hybrid
  • Could be available if not breaking into XI

🎯 Central Midfield (creative / box-to-box)​

🇳🇱 Kenneth Taylor (Ajax)​

  • Age: 22–23
  • Creative midfield engine
  • Proven in European competitions

🇫🇷 Lesley Ugochukwu (Chelsea)​

  • Age: 21
  • Physical, progressive midfielder
  • Often available on loan or permanent if blocked

🇩🇰 Morten Frendrup (Genoa)​

  • Age: 23
  • One of Serie A’s best ball-winners
  • Perfect “Premier League engine” CM

⚡ Wingers (key area for Europa League push)​

🇧🇷 Savinho (Manchester City / Girona loan system)​

  • Age: 20
  • Elite dribbler, high ceiling
  • Often moved within City Football Group structure

🇫🇷 Amine Adli (Bayer Leverkusen)

  • Age: 23–24
  • Pressing winger, technical, goal threat

🇳🇱 Johan Bakayoko (PSV)​

  • Age: 21–22
  • Explosive right winger
  • Already producing in Europe

🇵🇹 Francisco Conceição (Porto)​

  • Age: 21–22
  • Elite 1v1 winger
  • High intensity, Premier League ready

🎯 Strikers​

🇸🇪 Viktor Gyökeres-type (if not elite move already completed)​

  • Age: 25 (slightly over but relevant archetype)
  • Physical, high-output striker profile
  • These are the players Sunderland should replicate in scouting

🇩🇰 Conrad Harder (Sporting CP)​

  • Age: 19–20
  • High-upside striker prospect
  • Perfect “develop into £70m asset” profile

🇫🇷 Elye Wahi (Marseille/Lens trajectory)​

  • Age: 21–22
  • Pace + finishing + volatility
  • Classic Premier League breakout candidate

🇩🇪 Maximilian Beier (Hoffenheim)​

  • Age: 21–23
  • Pressing forward, intelligent movement
  • Very modern striker profile
AI slop. Maybe read it first, as there is a lot bollocks there
 
---------------------------------------

transfer shortlist per position

Here’s a realistic Europa League–level Sunderland shortlist, built around the idea of a club that has just finished 7th in the Premier League, wants to push toward top 6, and is targeting under-25 high-upside players who are actually plausible to sign (not fantasy Galácticos).
I’ll structure it by position and keep it focused on players who fit:
  • stepping-stone clubs
  • non-elite leagues
  • or “talented but not nailed-on starters” at bigger clubs


🧤 Goalkeeper (competition / future #1)​

🇧🇪 Maarten Vandevoordt (RB Leipzig / ex-Genk)​

  • Age: 23
  • Elite shot-stopping upside
  • Has been “next big GK” in Belgium for years
  • Could still be obtainable if not first-choice

🇫🇷 Guillaume Restes (Toulouse FC)​

  • Age: 20
  • One of France’s best young keepers
  • Modern sweeper-keeper profile
  • Would be a statement signing

🛡️ Centre-Backs​

🇳🇱 Jorrel Hato (AFC Ajax)​

  • Age: 18–20
  • Left-footed, elite ball-playing CB/LB hybrid
  • One of Europe’s most in-demand defenders
  • Expensive but exactly “top-6 trajectory”

🇩🇪 Max Rosenfelder (SC Freiburg)​

  • Age: 21–22
  • Strong Bundesliga defender profile
  • Physical, disciplined, underrated

🇫🇷 Castello Lukeba (RB Leipzig)​

  • Age: 22
  • Already top-level Bundesliga CB
  • Could move if not cemented starter

🏃 Full-Backs​

🇵🇹 Tiago Santos (LOSC Lille)​

  • Age: 22
  • High-energy attacking RB
  • Perfect Premier League profile

🇪🇸 Álvaro Carreras (Benfica)​

  • Age: 21–22
  • Aggressive, technical LB
  • Developed at Manchester United system

🇫🇷 Sacha Boey (Bayern Munich)​

  • Age: 24
  • If not fully established at Bayern, becomes a market opportunity
  • Elite 1v1 defending + pace

⚙️ Defensive Midfielders​

🇩🇪 Tom Bischof (TSG Hoffenheim)​

  • Age: 19–20
  • One of Germany’s best young midfielders
  • Press-resistant, creative pivot

🇨🇿 Pavel Šulc (Viktoria Plzeň)​

  • Age: 23–24
  • High-output box-to-box profile
  • Underrated European League performer

🇧🇪 Arthur Vermeeren (Atlético Madrid)​

  • Age: 20
  • Elite tactical DM/CM hybrid
  • Could be available if not breaking into XI

🎯 Central Midfield (creative / box-to-box)​

🇳🇱 Kenneth Taylor (Ajax)​

  • Age: 22–23
  • Creative midfield engine
  • Proven in European competitions

🇫🇷 Lesley Ugochukwu (Chelsea)​

  • Age: 21
  • Physical, progressive midfielder
  • Often available on loan or permanent if blocked

🇩🇰 Morten Frendrup (Genoa)​

  • Age: 23
  • One of Serie A’s best ball-winners
  • Perfect “Premier League engine” CM

⚡ Wingers (key area for Europa League push)​

🇧🇷 Savinho (Manchester City / Girona loan system)​

  • Age: 20
  • Elite dribbler, high ceiling
  • Often moved within City Football Group structure

🇫🇷 Amine Adli (Bayer Leverkusen)

  • Age: 23–24
  • Pressing winger, technical, goal threat

🇳🇱 Johan Bakayoko (PSV)​

  • Age: 21–22
  • Explosive right winger
  • Already producing in Europe

🇵🇹 Francisco Conceição (Porto)​

  • Age: 21–22
  • Elite 1v1 winger
  • High intensity, Premier League ready

🎯 Strikers​

🇸🇪 Viktor Gyökeres-type (if not elite move already completed)​

  • Age: 25 (slightly over but relevant archetype)
  • Physical, high-output striker profile
  • These are the players Sunderland should replicate in scouting

🇩🇰 Conrad Harder (Sporting CP)​

  • Age: 19–20
  • High-upside striker prospect
  • Perfect “develop into £70m asset” profile

🇫🇷 Elye Wahi (Marseille/Lens trajectory)​

  • Age: 21–22
  • Pace + finishing + volatility
  • Classic Premier League breakout candidate

🇩🇪 Maximilian Beier (Hoffenheim)​

  • Age: 21–23
  • Pressing forward, intelligent movement
  • Very modern striker profile
Is this from a year ago?
 
Back
Top