Sunderland had a fairly busy January transfer window with eye-catching deals for Jermain Defoe and Patrick Roberts secured in the final days of the month.
However, the end of the window was dominated by the departure of Lee Johnson following his side’s 6-0 defeat to Bolton Wanderers.
Alex Neil was the man selected to take charge of the Black Cats who, despite currently sitting in fourth place, are slipping towards missing out on a playoff place all-together.
For Sunderland, another season in League One would be a disastrous result, especially considering the strength of their squad.
To illustrate this, using data from Transfermarkt, we have ranked each League One side from who has the least valuable squad, to the side that has the most valuable squad - including each team’s Most Valuable Player (excluding loanees):
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Alex Neil was the man selected to take charge of the Black Cats who, despite currently sitting in fourth place, are slipping towards missing out on a playoff place all-together.
![Total squad value: £12.38million - Average value per player: £427,000 - Most Valuable Player: Graeme Shinnie (£1.62million)](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjM0YjE1ZGY4LTE3NDctNGI3OC1iODIyLTFhZmI1YWU2YmUzZTpiM2QwYjM0MS1mNTE2LTQwNDgtOTY3Yi04ODQxNDJhZTI1MTQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
21. Wigan Athletic
Total squad value: £12.38million - Average value per player: £427,000 - Most Valuable Player: Graeme Shinnie (£1.62million) Photo: Lewis Storey
![Total squad value: £16.13million - Average value per player: £672,000 - Most Valuable Player: Tom Carroll (£1.62million)](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmY5NjFhODVkLTkzZGYtNDYzNy1hZjMyLWQ5NWY0N2M5MzVlZDplMTgzN2ZmMi04YWY3LTRlZTAtOGEzZC1lYTlkNTg1YTIwMGY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
22. Ipswich Town
Total squad value: £16.13million - Average value per player: £672,000 - Most Valuable Player: Tom Carroll (£1.62million) Photo: Alex Davidson
![Total squad value: £16.79million - Average value per player: £622,000 - Most Valuable Player: Alex Pritchard (£2.25million)](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjhiMmZmNzNkLWRiZDYtNDRhZC1iNzk5LTcxNWIwZTUzZjc4YjoyNzczOTQyMy05NTU2LTQ4OGMtYmQ5Ny1jNTBiYmMyMzNjMTE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
23. Sunderland
Total squad value: £16.79million - Average value per player: £622,000 - Most Valuable Player: Alex Pritchard (£2.25million) Photo: Alex Burstow
![Total squad value: £24.48million - Average value per player: £942,000 - Most Valuable Player: Josh Windass (£1.8million)](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmM5NWRmYTJkLTUwZWEtNGE5Ny05MmM0LTQxZTc0ZWZjZjc2MToxNjFjNjdmNS0yYzdlLTQ1ZWEtODdkYy01ZWM5OTViYjJlZmY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
24. Sheffield Wednesday
Total squad value: £24.48million - Average value per player: £942,000 - Most Valuable Player: Josh Windass (£1.8million) Photo: Alex Pantling