Journalist James Copley has praised the Sunderland owners following recent transfer news.
Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and in particular sporting director Kristjaan Speakman have faced widespread criticism from fans over the past several month.
The criticism largely began with the sacking of Tony Mowbray in December and the subsequent appointment of Michael Beale, who lasted just 12 games in charge.
Following his exit from the Stadium of Light in February, Sunderland took four months to hire Regis Le Bris as their new manager.
The arrival of the Frenchman, who steered Lorient to Ligue 1 relegation last season, has split opinion among supporters.
But his arrival allows Sunderland and Speakman to press on with the club’s summer transfer plans; of which there should be plenty.
Most of the focus may surround potential outgoings on Wearside this summer and attention right now seems to be on the future of Jobe Bellingham.
Sunderland owners praised amid Jobe Bellingham transfer interest
Sunderland teenager Bellingham is a summer transfer target for Crystal Palace among others.
It’s reported that Sunderland have rejected offers from Crystal Palace for Bellingham and that the owners will only consider offers of £20milion.
Bellingham signed for Sunderland from Birmingham City last summer in a deal worth a reported £3million, with the 18-year-old penning a deal until 2027.
Now, journalist James Copley has offered rare praise of the Sunderland owners for their determination to keep their young stars, and to not sell them for less than what they value them at.
Sunderland do one thing better than most clubs
Copley makes a very good point in that Sunderland aren’t a club who sell up easily in the transfer market, with Jack Clarke’s last summer another good example.
Sunderland received bids from the likes of Burnley which didn’t meet their transfer value, so they kept him, and have subsequently seen his transfer value go up.
But Copley makes another good point regarding contracts for these youngsters that they sign, with many of them on longer-term deals.
It gives Sunderland ample time to see their transfer value rise and it also avoids them getting into a situation where they lose valuable players for nothing.
Sunderland, although they’ve had mixed results in the transfer market in the last year especially, do have a very strong mantra with regards to player sales and player contracts.
If managed properly for the foreseeable future, it will give Sunderland a very sustainable income for many years to come.