Sunderland's bold £62m summer transfer window predicted with Chelsea, West Ham and Leicester City deals

Sunderland are currently putting the final preparations together ahead of new coach Regis Le Bris’ first season in charge at the Stadium of Light.

Last season was a period of change for the Black Cats after they parted company with former manager Tony Mowbray before his successor Michael Beale endured a challenging short-term spell in charge. Interim manager Mike Dodds saw out an underwhelming campaign but there are now high hopes former Lorient head coach Le Bris can bring a serious improvement out of his newly-inherited squad.

With a month left in the summer transfer window, Sunderland have completed the signings of Coventry City goalkeeper Simon Moore, Leeds United winger Ian Poveda and Preston North End midfielder Alan Browne as all three players made free transfer switches to the North East. But we wondered what other business Le Bris and the Black Cats could conduct over the coming month so we fired up Football Manager 2024, updated their squad, and played out the coming weeks to see which new signings arrived at the Stadium of Light:

Goalkeepers

There were two new additions to the Black Cats goalkeeping ranks. Firstly, the real-life addition of former Coventry City stopper Simon Moore and he was joined by the virtual addition of Wigan Athletic’s Sam Tickle, who moved to the Stadium of Light in a £1.5m deal.

Le Bris’ goalkeeping options: Patterson, Moore, Tickle

Defenders

Now this is where it gets strange because there were no new defensive additions for the Black Cats - but there was one big departure. It came in the form of Trai Hume as the Northern Ireland international moved to Premier League newcomers Leicester City in a £12m deal. There was another departure as Joe Anderson joined Aberdeen on a season-long loan that contained no option for a permanent move at the end of the season. Nectarios Triantis also headed out on loan and will spend the season with Bristol Rovers.

Le Bris’ defensive options: Ballard, Seelt, O’Nien, Alese, Cirkin, Hjelde, Huggins, Pembele

Midfielders

Firstly, the big departure! Jobe Bellingham was snapped up by Premier League club Chelsea in an £18m move but made a quick return to Sunderland on a season-long loan. He will be joined by Blues youngster Cesare Casadei who made a similar move to Wearside. Academy product Elliott Embleton was sold to League Two club Doncaster Rovers in a £500,000 deal and Jay Matete will spend the season with Wycombe Wanderers. There was one more new face in the midfield ranks after Slovakia international Ondrej Duda joined in a £3m move from Italian club Hellas Verona.

Le Bris’ midfield options: Ekwah, Neil, Browne, Rigg, Bellingham, Aouchiche, Duda, Casadei

Forwards

Sunderland supporters finally got the strikers they crave in the real world here. There was what should be a pleasant surprise as former Middlesbrough forward Chuba Akpom returned to the Championship after the Black Cats agreed a £5m deal with Dutch giants Ajax. He will be joined by Tottenham Hotspur youngster Dane Scarlett, who was snapped up on a season-long loan. There were departures at the top end of the pitch and the most significant was in-demand winger Jack Clarke, who made a £21m move to West Ham United. Nazariy Rusyn and Hemir made loan moves to Zoria Luhansk and Exeter City respectively and Jewison Bennette completed a £1m permanent switch to French club Le Havre.

Le Bris’ forward options: Ba, Roberts, Mundle, Poveda, Mayenda, Akpom, Scarlett

In

Browne (free transfer from Preston North End), Ian Poveda (free transfer from Leeds United), Simon Moore (free transfer from Coventry City), Akpom (£5m from Ajax), Duda (£3m from Hellas Verona), Casadei (loan from Chelsea), Scarlett (loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Bellingham (loan from Chelsea), Tickle (£1.5m from Wigan Athletic)

Out

Jack Diamond (free transfer to Stockport County), Ellis Taylor (free transfer to Harrogate Town), Alex Bass (undisclosed to Notts County), Nathan Bishop (loan to Wycombe Wanderers), Bradley Dack and Corry Evans (both released), Rusyn (loan to Zoria Luhansk), Hemir (loan to Exeter City), Hume (£12m to Leicester City), Matete (loan to Wycombe Wanderers), Clarke (£21m to West Ham United), Triantis (loan to Bristol Rovers), Anderson (loan to Aberdeen), Bellingham (£18m to Chelsea), Embleton (£500,000 to Doncaster Rovers), Bennette (£1m to Le Havre)