Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has said that the club have absolutely no Financial Fair Play issues.
At the Stadium of Light, Regis Le Bris hasn’t been behind the table for very long, but business is moving quickly and it needs to.
By the end of the 2023–24 season, Sunderland finished in 16th place. It will be difficult to move them up, but they have a solid number of tools in the building that will help them get there.
Chris Rigg and young midfielder Jobe Bellingham have pledged their future to the team despite connections to Crystal Palace.
Despite heavy interest from outside Europe, the Sunderland Echo reports that the latter has apparently been offered the finest first professional contract the Black Cats have ever given out to keep Rigg at his boyhood club. Of course, other considerations also played a role in his decision to stay.
Sunderland has only added one player this transfer window: former Coventry City goalkeeper Simon Moore. However, as Le Bris wants to add experience in the middle of the park, it looks as though Sunderland is on the verge of signing Preston North End captain Alan Browne.
Their favorable posture with regard to the financial restrictions is one thing that this summer will help them with, according to Speakman.
Kristjaan Speakman on Sunderland’s FFP standing
According to the sporting director of the Black Cats, there is no chance that they will break any Profit and Sustainability regulations.
Speakman told the Northern Echo, “I can categorically say there is no financial pressure through any of the regulations or anything like that that would force us to sell a player.”
“I believe we can outcompete those teams that are in problems all the time with our approach to managing the club and our strategy. We think we can accomplish our objectives if we grow and do better every year.”
Le Bris will want to be able to shape the club in his image by adding players that play the way he does. This should be made considerably simpler by Sunderland’s financial flexibility, especially in comparison to other Championship competitors.
The sporting director went on, “It is only natural for us to strive for growth and strength. However, I believe that clubs dealing with FFP and PNS concerns have had to let go of players, and it’s challenging to obtain that steady advancement, isn’t it?
‘‘You’ve also witnessed what can occur over several years. Huddersfield is certainly a pretty fair example, which is unfortunate for them, but they are in the play-offs one year, candidates for relegation the following, and finally go down.”