Sunderland completed ‘spectacular coup’ that 20 other clubs wanted to seal
Ian Darke has praised the way Sunderland went about their summer transfer business.
Sunderland are mathematically on course to secure European football this season, having started the campaign as everyone’s pick to get relegated straight back to the Championship.
Regis Le Bris’ tactical prowess, matched with the ambition shown by Kyril Louis-Dreyfus in the summer, has been instrumental to the success they’ve found.
However, none of the current highs would have been possible without one of the signings they were able to pull off in the summer.
Granit Xhaka’s impact at Sunderland is among the best in the Premier League
When Erik ten Hag stated that Granit Xhaka would not be leaving Leverkusen, it seemed as though the Black Cats’ attempt to pull off one of the most ambitious deals in Premier League history.
However, after weeks of perseverance, Sunderland sealed the signing of the Swiss captain, and they have not looked back since.
Xhaka has been at the heart of the success Sunderland have had on their return to the top flight, with his impact lauded by pundits on a weekly basis.
Via ESPN, Darke has hailed the 33-year-old as the signing of the season, and believes that the Black Cats will have had to fight off serious competition to sign him.
“Midfielder Granit Xhaka looks like the signing of the season,” Darke said. “His team have shocked everyone since returning to the top flight.
“With Xhaka on board, no one is tipping Sunderland to be relegated now. It was a spectacular coup for the Black Cats to get him only a year after he led Bayer Leverkusen to their undefeated Bundesliga title win.
“20 other clubs would have snapped him up.”
Granit Xhaka’s arrival changed everything on Wearside
Not only has Xhaka emerged as an early shout for the Player of the Season award, but his arrival at the Stadium of Light opened up a series of opportunities.
His Leverkusen teammate Nordi Mukiele joined him weeks later, with several other high-profile targets also making the move to Wearside.
Just his presence alone is enough to attract more quality to Sunderland, and with a top 10 finish on the cards this season, that will only be amplified in January when the Black Cats go again.
Louis-Dreyfus has already stated his ambition for Sunderland, and Xhaka will have a further influence on whether or not they can achieve it.
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