Sunderland secured their Premier League survival when they drew 1-1 with Wolverhampton Wanderers away last weekend.
Regis Le Bris is the first manager since Sam Allardyce in the 2015/16 campaign to lead the Black Cats out of the top flight. It's been a long time coming.
The French head coach will not want to stop there, as he must ensure that standards do not drop in the Premier League next season.
Sunderland have won just two of their last seven games in all competitions and have conceded ten goals in their last three league games, showing the danger of not being in top form.
To avoid a second season in the Premier League, the Black Cats must look to strengthen their squad in the summer transfer window.
Why Sunderland must improve their wide options in the summer transfer window
The team must aim for the wide positions when the business window opens because they did not have enough product in the third position from their players in that area of the field.
None of Sunderland's natural wide players have produced more than four goals or one assist in the Premier League, and no player in the squad has scored two goals or assisted.
Chemsdine Talbi has provided some moments of magic, with four goals, but a return of five goals in 26 games shows that he still needs consistency in his play in the final third.
Sunderland have not had a winger who has provided consistent quality at the end of the pitch since they sold Jack Clarke to Ipswich for £15m in the summer of 2024.
The England striker has scored 24 goals and provided 16 assists in his last two Championship seasons combined, and Le Bris could sign the club's top scorer since Clarke this summer.
Sunderland could sign their best player since Jack Clarke
Sunderland and Everton are two clubs reportedly interested in signing Millwall winger Femi Azeez when the summer transfer window opens next month.
He was the subject of a £20m bid from Bournemouth in January, which shows the kind of money it will take to secure his services this summer, and Ipswich were also keen on him.
Millwall will play Hull in the Championship play-offs this month, meaning they could still reach the Premier League, while Sunderland may have to wait and see what happens to their promotion push before making the trip.
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Many great chances were created in the 25/26 Championship |
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|---|---|
|
The player |
Great opportunities have been created |
|
Leo Scienza |
21 |
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Sorba Thomas |
20 |
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Femi Azeez |
18 |
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Imran Louza |
16 |
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Gustavo Hamer |
16 |
Only two players have created more 'big chances' than Azeez in the regular season in the Championship, and he has created twice as many as Sunderland's leading 'big chances' creator – Xhaka (nine).
As well as being a unique creator as a left winger for the Lions, the 24-year-old talent has also attracted attention with his ability to score.
Azeez scored 11 goals from 8.35 xG in Millwall's second division, only missing nine 'big chances', showing that he was an effective coach as a wide player, as he rarely gave up a chance to score.
The Nigerian striker finished the regular season with 29 goals and 'big chances' for the Lions in the Championship, while no Sunderland midfielder has produced more than 13 goals and 'big chances' combined in the Premier League.
Not since Clarke scored 15 goals and created 12 'big chances' in the 2023/24 Championship season have Sunderland had a wide player score 20 or more goals and 'big chances' created together.
That means Azeez could arrive at the Stadium of Light as the club's wide forward since allowing Clarke to sign for Ipswich two years ago, as he has the quality to score and create goals regularly.
If Sunderland want to avoid a second season in the Premier League, adding more quality to their attack by signing players like Azeez would be crucial.
Sunderland could sign £36m transfer target from Spurs
Sunderland need to fix their backline, with the problems that have plagued them over the past few months.
