Sunderland urged to be careful with PSR as ‘aggressive’ transfer claim made

Sunderland sent shockwaves throughout the Premier League with their summer spending.

With six points from the first three games, it has been a positive start to life back in the Premier League for the Black Cats.

A lot of that is down to their summer business, with 15 new arrivals checking in at the Stadium of Light throughout the course of the window.

However, as always with Premier League clubs, PSR conversations crop up often, and it is no different for Regis Le Bris’ side.

Regis Le Bris staring on at Sunderland
Credit: Imago

This story includes exclusive comment from football finance expert Dr Daniel Plumley.

PSR still on Sunderland’s radar despite controlled sumemr spending

Sunderland became the highest-spending promoted club in Premier League history this summer, overtaking Nottingham Forest when they were forced to undergo a massive squad overhaul upon their promotion from the Championship a few years ago.

The figures mentioned at the Stadium of Light have raised eyebrows, but finance expert Dan Plumley doesn’t believe they are close to breaking any PSR boundaries.

Speaking exclusively to Mackem News, he said: “The revenue line is going to go through the roof. You know, you’re going from £30million to £150m. And with that comes the ability to spend.

Summer spend from promoted clubs

“They’ve got to be careful still with the wage bill. And as you say, they’ve looked to kind of do some good deals where they can perhaps manoeuvre that wage bill a little bit. And PSR will still be on their radar, of course, it will.

“But they were just in a very different spot to Leeds and Burnley in terms of finance. And we’ve seen them be aggressive. I didn’t think they would be that aggressive, if I’m honest, in the summer.

“And I think in terms of going again in January, they probably can. I do think a lot of that will also depend on where they are in the league come Christmas time, because if they have got a chance of survival, we might see them go again and try and maintain that status.”

Sunderland badge at the Stadium of Light
Credit: Imago

Sunderland have recruited smartly

Sunderland want to stay in the Premier League, but if those attempts fail, they will still be in a healthy spot.

A lot of the players brought in will have significant value, even after relegation, meaning the revenue flow will remain consistent, and losses will be kept to a minimum.

The likes of Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki and Brian Brobbey have all joined for respectable fees, but if they can impress this season, their value doubles, regardless of the outcome at the end of the campaign.

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