Sunderland will compete in European competition for only the second time in their history when they enter the Europa League next season.
A football finance expert has warned Sunderland they may need to spend ‘significant amounts of money’ to cope with the hectic fixture schedule they will face next season after securing a place in the Europa League.
The Black Cats enjoyed a remarkable first season back in the Premier League as their new look squad racked up some impressive wins against the likes of Chelsea, Brentford and Newcastle United and claimed deserved draws against big-hitters such as Liverpool, Manchester City and newly-crowned champions Arsenal. It was a 2-1 home victory against Chelsea on the final day of a memorable campaign that officially secured European football for only the second time in the club’s history and for the first time since Bob Stokoe’s FA Cup heroes of 1973 took part in the Cup Winners’ Cup during the following season.
All thoughts will now go towards a crucial summer transfer window as the Stadium of Light hierarchy look to boost Regis Le Bris’ squad as the French head coach prepares for major challenge when the new season gets underway in August. Although Sunderland will not enter the Carabao Cup until the third round, they are guaranteed to face eight Europa League fixtures in the league phase of a competition won by Premier League rivals Aston Villa earlier this month. The Wearside faithful are already reaching for their passports and they will now where they will be heading when the league phase draw takes place on Friday, August 28.
Although there is understandable excitement over the adventures that lies in wait, football finance expert Stefan Borson believes the immediate focus should go on a summer transfer window that will provide a significant challenge for the Black Cats as they prepare for ‘quite a shock’ playing Thursday night football in the Europa League.
‘Brilliant achievement’
He told Football Insider: “I don’t know whether it’ll be £100m, but they will also need to spend because they’ll also need a bigger squad to deal with Thursday night football. They probably weren’t expecting it. Even up until quite late in the season, I bet they didn’t really think that’s what was going to happen. And now they found themselves in a very competitive competition that they’re going to want to do well in.
“They’ve got some good experience there, particularly in Xhaka. But how can they cope with that Thursday night without spending significant amounts of money on footballers? It doesn’t seem to me that there’s any other way, really. There are so many games in the Europa and they’re likely not to go out early. You’re likely to be playing well into, certainly February, probably March, minimum. You just need a bigger squad, and if you want a bigger squad, you’re going to have to spend the money. It’s a brilliant achievement for them, but it’s going to be quite a shock playing on Thursday nights.”