Sunderland ‘show they have more pull’ than fellow promoted sides with Habib Diarra signing
Sunderland have demonstrated their ability to fend off competition from fellow Premier League sides with the signing of Habib Diarra.
Diarra, who scored against England for Senegal earlier this month, is set for a medical on Wearside.
The 21-year-old was reportedly of interest to Aston Villa and Leeds, but Sunderland beat their Premier League rivals to Diarra’s signature.
Sunderland hold key advantage over fellow promoted sides
With the expected signing of Diarra, Sunderland have already shown they have more pull than their rivals.
Beating Leeds to the signing of the Senegalese international has shown that the club have more ambition than the Whites and that Diarra believes that too.
Sunderland will again break their transfer record in a £30 million deal for the Strasbourg midfielder.
Meanwhile, Burnley’s most expensive summer signing is £12 million for Bashir Humphreys, who was on loan with the Clarets last season.
Sunderland started the month playing catch-up up having lost Jobe Bellingham, but holding out for a high fee for the youngster has given the Mackems a key advantage.
Having banked more than £25 million from the sale of Bellingham, Sunderland have been able to use the money, combined with promotion earnings, to improve their squad.
Diarra will be a direct replacement for Bellingham.
The midfield plays a similar, physically strong possession-based style as the Mackems former youngster but offers a more creative outlet with nine goal contributions last season.
Sunderland have also opened talks to sign Polish goalkeeper Marcin Bulka from French side Nice.
The move would again stress just how much ambition the Stadium of Light club are showing to remaining a Premier League side beyond next season.
| Season | Games | Goal contributions |
| 2024/25 | 33 | 9 |
| 2023/24 | 35 | 6 |
| 2022/23 | 31 | 6 |
Sunderland must avoid replicating Ipswich
Last season, Ipswich invested heavily in young Championship talent and paid the price.
Despite spending more than £100 million last season, the Tractor Boys struggled and joined Southampton and Leicester as they dropped straight back into the Championship.
So far, Sunderland have been targeting young talent from abroad who can vastly improve their squad.
The Black Cats should also invest in players with vast Premier League experience, such as Jordan Henderson, to avoid the drop.
However, they must avoid dipping into the Championship market as they can’t afford to let players bed into their squad.