Former Sunderland star wants targeted transfer approach ahead of Europa League challenge
Sunderland will compete in European football for only the second time in their history when the new season gets underway.
Former Sunderland defender Alan Hutton believes his old club must focus on ‘quality rather than quantity’ during the summer transfer window as they prepare to compete alongside the likes of Juventus and AC Milan in the Europa League.
An overwhelmingly successful recruitment drive last summer laid the foundations for the most memorable season in the Black Cats recent history as Regis Le Bris’ side marked their return to the Premier League with a seventh placed finish and qualification for European competition for only the second time in their history.
Sunderland’s net spend last summer was around £135m as the likes of Robin Roefs, Brian Brobbey and Granit Xhaka were amongst 15 new arrivals ahead of the season - although loan signing Marc Guiu returned to parent club Chelsea after just three appearances. Hutton is not anticipating such a hectic summer this time around - but did stress the need for Sunderland to add ‘game-changers’ to their squad in a bid to get the best out of Brian Brobbey.
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Speaking to The Echo via Best Betting Bonuses, the former Black Cats full-back said: “I think they do have to do business. They were the surprise package a little bit in the first season. When you look at the set-up at this moment in time, I don’t think they scored enough goals last season, even though they finished seventh and they’re in the Europa League. They need to kick on, they need strength-in-depth in the squad. So if they can get three or four players in, game-changers for me, wide guys, maybe another striker to help Brobbey out, I think they can kick on. It’s probably quality rather than quantity this season. I think they’ll become better after a season in the league so if it’s three or four in, I think that will help in forward areas.”
Experience
Despite the positivity surrounding Wearside ahead of the new season, Hutton believes the Black Cats have questions to answer as they prepare to compete in the Europa League for the first time in their history. Le Bris and his players will face at least eight additional fixtures during the campaign and that will increase the strain on the Frenchman’s squad. However, Hutton has insisted the experience a new-look Sunderland gained during their first season back in the Premier League can ‘stand them in good stead’ as they prepare for the challenges they will face during the new campaign.
He said: “That’s the big question mark next to them this season. They have the Europa League to contend with and I think if they make the squad a little bit stronger, the depth a little bit bigger, they can help it. But they aren’t the surprise package anymore, you know what you’re getting. You know it’s going to be a difficult game against them and you have to up your game. I do believe with the players they’ve brought in, there’s a lot of young players in there playing in the Premier League for the first season so the experience they have gained will stand them in good stead moving forward so I think they’ll be ok.”
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