Newcastle won’t like Sunderland mega-deal Louis-Dreyfus is ready to sign off on
Sunderland are on the cusp of their biggest game in recent history as they face Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final.
Regis Le Bris has a chance to guide the Black Cats to their first Premier League campaign since 2017 when they travel to Wembley on Saturday.
The potential prize is massive, with a £120 million income expected if Sunderland go up.
On top of this, the Black Cats are a step closer to reaching their potential, which could disrupt the balance of power in the north.
Potential new Sunderland investors could upset Newcastle’s northern dominance
In recent years, Newcastle have gone from strength to strength while Sunderland have been stuck in League One and the Championship.
The two rivals are both in their best and worst periods in recent history, but this could be about change.
Reports suggest that Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is planning on inviting investors to the Black Cats if they achieve promotion on the weekend.
This would no doubt allow Le Bris more spending power in the summer, which will be vital if they were to stay in the Premier League.
In the long term, it could also help Sunderland challenge Newcastle as the Magpies also boast wealthy owners.
Therefore, it is unlikely that Newcastle will welcome this news as it could be the catalyst for dismantling all of their recent work.
Sunderland are a sleeping giant waiting to be awoken
It is obvious that Sunderland are a sleeping giant in the Championship. The Black Cats average the highest attendances in the league and have been, until recently, a regular in the top-flight.
If promotion is achieved on Saturday, it will be the first big step in awakening the potential at Sunderland.
| Sunderland’s record against Sheffield United | |
| Wins | 67 |
| Draws | 26 |
| Losses | 54 |
Staying in the Premier League will be a massive task, but if investment does come in and Le Bris spends his transfer budget in the right areas, there is no reason why they can’t stay up.
If this is then achieved, there is a real possibility that the Black Cats become a Premier League power once again.