Granit Xhaka incredible, 4/10 yet to impress – Sunderland’s summer signings rated so far
Sunderland brought 15 new players to the Stadium of Light in the summer, albeit one of those being Marc Guiu.
Sunderland sit ninth in the Premier League heading into the October international break, which is far higher than anyone would have anticipated at the start of the season.
Several of the summer arrivals have shocked supporters with how well they have adapted to the Premier League, while a handful of others are yet to live up to expectations.
With that in mind, Mackem News rates the performances of those who have made the move to Wearside in the summer.
Granit Xhaka – 10/10
Since arriving on Wearside, Granit Xhaka has been sensational for Sunderland, on the pitch, but also off of it.
His leadership and experience have been clear from day one, and those who questioned his ability to still play at the top level have been very quiet.
With three assists already, Xhaka has been an integral component of the success that Sunderland have found so far this season.
Not only has he been Sunderland’s best signing, but there is a strong case to be made for him being the best in the Premier League when taking into account the influence he has had.
Robin Roefs – 9/10
Sunderland would not be where they are had it not been for Robin Roefs, who has been sensational since he arrived at the Stadium of Light.
No goalkeeper in the Premier League has prevented more goals than the Dutchman, who was once again at his best despite the latest defeat to Man United.
Everything about his game is a huge upgrade from Anthony Patterson, from his distribution to his cross-claiming ability.
It cannot be understated how important a good goalkeeper can be when it comes to a relegation battle, and Sunderland have an absolute gem with Roefs.
Nordi Mukiele – 9/10
It’s quite remarkable that Sunderland got Nordi Mukiele for £10million when you look at just how good he has been in the Premier League.
Even Alan Shearer has praised Mukiele, showcasing just how important he has been to the start made by the Black Cats.
The Frenchman has won just about everything that has come his way, whether that be in the air or on the floor, and has been more than tidy with the ball at his feet.
His long throws are just another asset to his game, with it looking to be a bargain buy for the Wearisders.
Omar Alderete – 9
Alongside Mukiele, Omar Alderete has been solid at the back for Sunderland, and the duo have formed a formidable partnership in the Premier League.
Alderete scored his first Sunderland goal in their 1-0 win against Forest and has looked like a constant threat from set pieces since arriving.
His ability on the ball has been just as impressive, having arrived with a reputation for being a no-nonsense defender.
With the above trio at the heart of the team, Sunderland have a remarkably strong foundation.
Noah Sadiki – 8/10
70 per cent of the earth is covered by water, you know the rest.
Noah Sadiki has brought something to the Sunderland midfield that has arguably never been seen before, with his constant energy and ability on the ball on full show.
However, he is far from being someone who just runs around the pitch, with his technical ability just as good as his physical ability.
There have been times when the game has somewhat passed him by, but for a 20-year-old to have adapted to the Premier League this quickly is just a showcase of how special he can be in the future.
Reinildo – 7/10
Reinildo has impressed at Sunderland, but his tendency to do something stupid has also been on show on several occasions.
The penalty incident against Brentford and the petulant red card against Aston Villa are just two times the experienced defender has shown when he can be a liability.
However, his performances have been more than impressive, and his desire to work hard for the club has been clear since day one.
Sunderland will benefit massively from his return from suspension, though he must cut out the silly incidents from his game.
Enzo Le Fee – 6/10
Enzo Le Fee was magic in the Championship, but he has yet to show his creative prowess in the Premier League on a consistent basis.
It remains to be seen where his best position will be in the top flight, though Le Bris has insisted on playing him wide left, which may be where he proves his worth.
With that said, Sundelrand fans are well aware of the quality he has, especially when he has the ball at his feet, and it is now up to him to showcase that on a more consistent basis.
Brian Brobbey and Lutsharel Geertruida – 6/10
Neither Brian Brobbey nor Lutsharel Geertruida have been given a fair shot in the team, so to praise them, or critique them, would be largely based on nothing.
With that said, Geertruida has already shown some promising signs, mainly through his versatility and defensive attributes.
Brobbey’s record at Ajax speaks for itself, and it will surely only be a matter of time until his worth starts to shine on Wearside.
Habib Diarra – 5/10
Given that Habib Diarra is Sunderland’s club-record signing, many expected him to have showcased a little more than he had before his injury.
The Senagalese international has yet to register a goal or an assist, with very few notable moments in games.
With that said, he is one of many young players still adapting to the Premier League, and there will be little doubt that he will come good when he returns.
However, whether that return is in December or in January remains to be seen.
Simon Adingra – 5/10
Like Diarra, many expected Adingra to come to Wearside and be a difference-maker, and he has yet to showcase his true worth.
There have been flashes in games that have highlighted his quality on the ball, but his tendency to switch off from it has been costly.
Sunderland have been relatively poor in front of goal this season, and players like Adingra will be the ones in focus to step up and take responsibility.
With that said, the Ivorian has started just four games and is the type of player likely to thrive with a run of games in the team.
Bertrand Traore – 5
Bertrand Traore has started once and made an appearance from the bench in another game, so he has played very little.
There have been some promising signs from the experienced winger, but similar to Adingra, his defensive work is something that needs to improve significantly.
His quality on the ball has been clear, but like a few in this list, it’s far too early to make any informed judgment on how he will fare.
With that said, for the minimal fee required to bring him to the Stadium of Light, there’s very little to get upset about.
Arthur Masuaku – 5
Arthur Masuaku was dreadful against Man United; there’s no sugarcoating that.
However, like Traore, he has made just two appearances since joining the Black Cats, and needs to be afforded more time for praise or criticism.
The early signs suggest that he will fare better in a back five as opposed to a flat four, which may be in the thinking of Regis Le Bris going forward.
Chemsdine Talbi – 4
This isn’t a rating out of criticism, but more one of frustration.
Chemsdine Talbi is evidently a quality player, but for one reason or another, he has yet to show his true potential at Sunderland.
Talbi is known for his direct play and ability to beat defenders, and yet we have seen none of that at Sunderland, with FotMob recording just one completed dribble from the Moroccan international, despite having started six times.
His work rate has been sensational, but given the reputation he had when he joined, and the money spent, it’s time for him to come out of his shell and show the true quality he has in the Premier League.
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