Sunderland in talks over £35m agreement
Sunderland could be set for a £35million financial boost as the culmination of their Championship promotion campaign approaches.
The Black Cats are fourth in the table with just 11 matches of the season remaining, having got back to winning ways on Friday with a 2-1 victory at Sheffield Wednesday – snapping a two-match losing streak.
As a result, Sunderland still sit eight points behind Sheffield United in the second automatic promotion spot, but are 13 clear of seventh-placed Blackburn Rovers, all-but guaranteeing a berth in the play-offs.
A return to the Premier League after eight years away therefore remains a very real possibility at the Stadium of Light, yet owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus isn’t satisfied with the potential payload that would bring.
Kyril Louis Dreyfus seeking £35m Sunderland cash injection
Although Dreyfus is one of the Championship’s wealthiest owners and has overseen great strides on and off the pitch since taking charge of Sunderland, he’s on the lookout for a short-term influx of finances.
The Sun on Sunday reported in their print edition (2 March, page 55) that the Sunderland chief is in talks with US financiers MSD Holdings over a £35m loan for the club – which would be made straight away.
The Black Cats have approached MSD Holdings over the “quick” loan despite it holding an interest rate of £5m per year, and despite having plenty of players Sunderland could sell for big money this summer.
£35m loan talks suggest difficult summer ahead at Sunderland
Although the Black Cats will be in line to bring in close to £200m if Premier League promotion is secured, Dreyfus – and every other Championship club owner – knows better than to see this as a sure thing.
Seeking an instant £35m cash boost before the end of the current season implies that Dreyfus and the Sunderland board are struggling to balance the books, as the push for promotion takes its toll financially.
| Name(s) | Role | Ownership Stake |
| Kyril Louis–Dreyfus | Chairman | 64 per cent |
| Juan Sartori | Non-executive director | 36 per cent |
| Maurice Louis-Dreyfus, Igor Levin, Patrick Treuer, Simon Vumbaca, David Jones, Leo Pearlman | Non-executive directors | N/A |
The likes of Wilson Isidor and Jobe Bellingham would be just two of several Black Cats eyed up by the Premier League and other European clubs if promotion isn’t achieved, providing plenty of sellable value.
If the Black Cats do return to the top flight and can establish themselves there, repaying £5m in annual loan interest will be a drop in the ocean, but it’s surely an expense which fans would rather do without.