Sam Allardyce predicts '˜massive turnover' of Sunderland squad this summer

Jeremain LensJeremain Lens
Jeremain Lens

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Sam Allardyce has predicted a 'massive turnover' of the Sunderland squad this summer as he looks to end the cycle of annual struggle.

Allardyce will hold detailed discussions with chairman Ellis Short over Sunderland’s transfer business next week, but the Black Cats boss believes there will be a hefty quantity of incomings and outgoings after the club secured their Premier League status on Wednesday night.

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The futures of loanees Yann M’Vila, Ola Toivonen, Dame N’Doye and DeAndre Yedlin are uncertain, with Allardyce due to hold talks with the quartet prior to Sunday’s trip to Watford.

But they are not the only players with a question mark hanging over their heads, with veteran defender Wes Brown out of contract, and midfielders Seb Larsson and Jeremain Lens both potentially departing after limited first-team football under Allardyce.

After the January transfer window proved to be so successful for Allardyce, the Sunderland boss will want to bring in more of his own players, with the Black Cats known to be admirers of Bordeaux midfielder Clement Chantome, available on a Bosman this summer.

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January targets Lamine Gossama – the Lorient right-back who is another out-of-contract player at the end of the season – and Swansea winger Andre Ayew could also come back onto Sunderland’s radar.

“I think there’ll be a massive turnover if we do the job right,” said Allardyce.

“There’s lots of players here on loan or out-of-contract, so there’s a question of what we do with them and how many we keep.

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“There’s also some of the players who we’ve already got who will say to me ‘gaffer I’d prefer to move because you haven’t played me as much as I’d want’.

“That’s natural. I would expect them to say that.

“I haven’t got a problem with that whatsoever.

“But, like everything else as a manager, I’m a good wheeler-dealer.

“In and outs are a massive part of how successful you’re going to be and hopefully our recruitment policy will be as good in the summer as it was in January.”

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With Allardyce at the helm, Sunderland have been tipped to embark upon a more stable era after four successive dramatic escapes from relegation.

The ex-West Ham boss hopes that proves to be the case, with little question now that he plans to stay for at least the remaining year of his Sunderland contract.

“I think the future will be determined by me and Ellis going forward together,” added Allardyce.

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“With his help and hopefully with my experience and some great recruitment, we can achieve better things together.”

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