The overlooked Sunderland star is now becoming a bigger flop than Adingra

No one can doubt that Sunderland have had an incredible first season back in the Premier League after securing their survival earlier this month.

The Black Cats also held Manchester United, who are expected to enter the Champions League next season, to a 0-0 draw at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Regis Le Bris has successfully built a team that can compete week in and week out in the top flight, and the next step is to push them further up the table next season.

In order to improve the squad and ensure they can start again in the 2026/27 campaign, Sunderland must learn where they went wrong in last summer's transfer window.

While the likes of Nordi Mukiele, Granit Xhaka, and Brian Brobbey have been successful for Wearside, Simon Adingra has struggled with the Black Cats.

The warning signs were ignored by Sunderland and Simon Adingra

The Ivory Coast striker looked like a good signing for Sunderland on paper when they paid £21m to sign him from Brighton, as he had two seasons of Premier League experience and came through the door as a 'proven' talent in the division.

There were warning signs there for Le Bris and the recruitment team, however, as Adingra's form dropped from 2023/24 to Brighton's 2024/25 campaign.

The 24-year-old striker joined Sunderland for a big fee after a slump in the Premier League, and that slump continued in the first half of the season.

Adingra scored one goal and provided zero assists in 14 Premier League games for the Black Cats before being loaned out to Monaco, who have an option to sign him permanently for £16m this summer.

The Monaco loanee is not the only player who has struggled at the Stadium of Light since joining last summer, however, as there is another signing who looks like an even bigger flop.

A Sunderland player who is becoming a bigger flop than Simon Adingra

Sunderland could lose £5m on Adingra if the French club make his deal permanent in the next transfer window, but they could end up losing out on another player.

The Black Cats paid a club-record £27m to sign central midfielder Habib Diarra from Strasbourg last summer, and he was completely overlooked on Saturday.

Le Bris left the Senegalese on the bench for the full 90 minutes, opting for midfielder Noah Sadiki, Granit Xhaka, and Enzo Le Fee, and that was after playing just 18 minutes off the bench against Wolves earlier this month.

Diarra may have been overlooked against the Red Devils because he contributed little to the team in attack or defense throughout the season in the Premier League.

Despite being signed for a club record fee, the 22-year-old has yet to provide consistent quality on the ball, underperforming his xG and failing to create a single 'big chance' for his teammates in 18 league outings.

In addition, Diarra did not look at the situation in the Premier League. Less than one tackle made per game and a duel success rate of 45% suggests that opposing midfielders find it very easy to beat him.

The 22-year-old midfielder is fast becoming bigger than Adingra because he cost £6m more than the former Brighton striker, and has not been as successful, if not more, on the pitch.

Unless the Senegal international significantly improves his performance, Sunderland may consider what to do with him in the summer transfer window, as he does not appear to be suitable for the Premier League on the evidence of this season.

If they do decide to cash in on him, it will be interesting to see if they will lose more than the £6m they look set to lose on Adingra, as few clubs will be impressed by his performances at Sunderland.