IT looked like a recipe for disaster — but Regis Le Bris’ newly-assembled squad are instead cooking up a treat at Sunderland.
And it is not just the 15 summer signings that have provided all the ingredients to get fans dreaming of a charge into Europe.
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris has put together a massive transformationIan Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
Sunderland co-owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has worked very well with Le BrisIan Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
Granit Xhaka’s arrival has upgraded SunderlandGeorge Wood/Getty Images
Robin Roefs has been nominated for Premier League player of the monthMatt West/Shutterstock
It has been some return to the big time so far . . . and the omens are already looking good.
No promoted side in Prem history has ever reached 11 points after six games and been relegated.
But you get the sense the ambitious Black Cats have their sights set on a lot more than just survival.
So what is the secret behind their start to the season under loveable French coach Le Bris?
Well, after a chaotic eight years on and off the pitch, stability upstairs and in the dugout helps.
Sunderland saw nine permanent managers come and go after David Moyes left at the end of that 2016-17 relegation campaign.
And the club tumbled into League One — where they were stuck for four years — before climbing back up the mountain.
Several of those were under owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, the Swiss-French businessman, 28, who took over the fallen North East giants in 2021.
But alongside sporting director Kristjaan Speakman, they knew Le Bris was the one they wanted in the summer of 2024 to replace Michael Beale.
And he led them to a Hollywood ending in last season’s Championship play-off final.
The hard work was only just beginning — but it would not involve simply spending money like a drunken sailor.
With Jobe Bellingham a prime example, Sunderland have a clear strategy of signing hungry young stars to improve them and bolster any resale value.
Bellingham was signed for £3million from Birmingham in 2023 and joined Borussia Dortmund for £27.8m in June.
A whopping 15 new players came in over the recent transfer window — and they have nearly all hit the ground running.
Eyebrows were raised when Granit Xhaka, 33, joined for an initial £13m from Bayer Leverkusen.
But the ex-Arsenal captain has shone in midfield, allowing Noah Sadiki to cover most of the ground while he remains the heartbeat of all Sunderland’s play.
Players shine bright
His performances have seen him nominated — alongside Robin Roefs — for Premier League player of the month.
Le Bris admits it was Louis-Dreyfus who played the biggest role in getting Xhaka through the door.
He said: “Kyril was really important. He was so involved, probably more than many owners in that process.”
But it is not just the squad that has undergone a major upgrade — Le Bris’ backroom team has grown, too.
Florent Ghisolfi arrived as director of football, while Shad Forsythe is new head of first-team performance after spells at Dortmund, Arsenal and Germany’s national team.
Luke Cooper has joined as the senior performance coach, Liam Howells is lead performance nutritionist and Colette Miller became the soft-tissue therapist.
Man Utd test
It has been a huge recruitment drive — but the club seem to be reaping their rewards.
The next big test comes at Old Trafford on Saturday against Manchester United.
Yet, Le Bris is not 100 per cent sure his own SON will be cheering Sunderland on.
His only other visit to United came when he took his boy over from France to watch the Manchester derby in 2015.
That day, Noah left happy as the Red Devils ran out 4-2 winners.
Boss Le Bris revealed: “My son will probably support Sunderland on Saturday. He is sat in the Sunderland end!”
Asked if his Prem new boys can cause the fallen giants problems, Le Bris added: “Absolutely. We’ll try our best to get points. But United is a huge club with a big history.”
Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
