Sunderland in line to bank additional £19million after exciting Kyril Louis-Dreyfus reveal

Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has already outlined his ambitions for Sunderland this season.

Survival was the goal for the Black Cats at the start of the season, and based on recent history, even that seemed far-fetched for a side that had just finished fourth in the Championship.

However, after an impressive start to the campaign, Sunderland are on course to achieve something special under Regis Le Bris.

The Frenchman has played a key role in their rise back to the top flight, as has Louis-Dreyfus, who has already highlighted what their target is for this season.

Regis Le Bris forces a smile in the Sunderland dugout
Credit: Imago

Kyril Louis-Dreyfus wants a top 10 finish for Sunderland

Darren Bent claimed that Europe should be on the agenda for Sunderland, but Louis-Dreyfus remains somewhat grounded.

Before the Black Cats’ 1-1 draw with Everton last month, Louis-Dreyfus revealed Sunderland’s transfer plans for January, and in doing so, also claimed that they would be doing business with a top 10 finish in mind.

Finance expert Dan Plumley has explained exclusively to Mackem News the financial benefits that would bring to the Stadium of Light, and it is substantial.

If we look at merit payments in particular, at the minute, they are worth about £2.7million in the Premier League, he explained.

Sunderland players in huddle
Credit: Imago

“If you took finishing 17th to finishing 10th and seven places, that’s around £19m, that’s the difference of finishing 10th versus 17th.

“That’s a considerable amount of money, so it can bear dividends financially.”

Where would Sunderland finish based on PPG?

With 19 points from their first 11 games back in the top flight, Sunderland are averaging 1.73 points per game.

When averaged throughout a full season, that would see the Black Cats finish on 65 points.

That points tally would have seen the Wearsiders qualify for a European competition in every season since 2014, when Tottenham took the final spot with 69 points.

Typically, a top 10 finish requires around 55 points, meaning Sunderland would need an average of 1.33 points per game to achieve that this year.

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