How previous Sunderland managers have fared in the transfer window - and the lead Phil Parkinson must follow

While results have picked up recently, with three wins in their last six games, this transfer window is crucial for Parkinson if he is to make the play-offs come the end of the season.

But how have previous Sunderland managers done in their first transfer window? Below we take a look at the incomings and outgoings of the previous bosses and rate how successful the signings were.

Sam Allardyce (January 2016)

IN

Jan Kirchhoff (Bayern Munich) £900k

Steve Harper (Free agent)

Lamine Kone (Lorient) £5.85m

Wahbi Khazri (Bordeaux) £10.6m

Dame N’Doye (Trabzonspor) Loan

OUT

Costel Pantilimon (Watford) Undisclosed

VERDICT 8/10

While it was a fairly quiet transfer window for Allardyce compared to other Sunderland managers, the new signings certainly made an impact.

The Black Cats lost just three games following the conclusion of the January window, and Kirchhoff and Kone were regulars at the back - both playing 15 games.

At a transfer fee of just short of £1m, Kirchhoff was arguably the bargain of the window for Sunderland - strengthening the back line as they leaked just 16 goals after the window.

While Harper didn’t play at all and Dame N’Doye scored just once in 11 appearances, Wahbi Khazri was a regular and scored twice and had one assist in his 14 games.

A six-game unbeaten run at the end of the campaign ensured Allardyce kept Sunderland in the Premier League, finishing 17th - two points above the drop.

David Moyes (Summer 2016)

IN

Papy Djilobodji (Chelsea) £8.5m

Paddy McNair (Manchester United) £4.7m

Donald Love (Manchester United) £1.04m

Steven Pienaar (Everton) Free

Didier N’Dong (Lorient) £13.6m

Victor Anichebe (West Brom) Free

Mika (Boavista) £1.35m

Adnan Januzaj (Manchester United) Loan

Javier Manquillo (Atletico Madrid) Loan

Jason Denayer (Manchester City) Loan

OUT

Liam Bridcutt (Leeds) £1m

Jordi Gomez (Wigan Athletic) Free

Younes Kaboul (Watford) £3.6m

Charis Mavrias (Released)

VERDICT: 3/10

Spending over £30m in the summer of 2016, David Moyes’ new signings certainly didn’t make an instant impact as they failed to win in their first 10 games.

Just two games into the season, Moyes warned fans to expect a relegation battle and this certainly didn’t go down well across the board.

Arguably their biggest waste of money at £13.6m, Didier N’Dong scored just once in 31 appearances during the season and had one assist.

Their second most expensive player Papy Djilobodji only made 18 appearances during the season - and clearly didn’t strengthen the back line.

Victor Anichebe, who signed from West Brom, was the side’s second top scorer with just three goals - very telling of the problems they faced at the Stadium of Light.

A disastrous season on and off the pitch for the Black Cats, with Moyes’ first transfer window proving very unsuccessful.

Simon Grayson (Summer 2017)

IN

Aiden McGeady (Everton) £252k

James Vaughan (Bury) £509k

Jason Steele (Blackburn Rovers) £504k

Robbin Ruiter (FC Utrecht) Free

Marc Wilson (Bournemouth) Free

Callum McManaman (West Brom) Free

Brendan Galloway (Everton) Loan

Tyias Browning (Everton) Loan

Lewis Grabban (Bournemouth) Loan

Jonny Williams (Crystal Palace) Loan

OUT

Joleon Lescott (Released)

Jan Kirchhoff (Released)

Seb Larsson (Released)

Will Buckley (Bolton Wanderers) Free

Steven Pienaar (Released)

Victor Anichebe (Released)

Jordan Pickford (Everton) £25.65m

Jermain Defoe (Bournemouth) Free

Vito Mannone (Reading) £2m

VERDICT: 5/10

While a fairly busy summer for Grayson after he succeeded Moyes, he failed to really make an impact during his time at the Stadium of Light.

With limited funds compared to Moyes, he spent just over £1 million.

At just £250k, Aiden McGeady was to make an impact over the next few seasons and was arguably a bargain but keeper Jason Steele and striker James Vaughan were to prove unsuccessful during their time on Wearside.

Lewis Grabban was arguably the best signing, and he top scored with 12 goals.

However, Grayson only lasted until the end of October winning just one game as the Black Cats dropped towards the relegation places with their terrible form in what was a toxic atmosphere at the club.

Chris Coleman (January 2018)

IN

Kazenga LuaLua (Brighton) Free

Jake Clarke-Salter (Chelsea) Loan

Ovie Ejaria (Liverpool) Loan

Ashley Fletcher (Middlesbrough) Loan

Lee Camp (Cardiff City) Loan

OUT

Mika (Released)

James Vaughan (Wigan Athletic) £300k

Lewis Grabban (End of loan)

VERDICT: 2/10

Coleman was desperate to find new additions in a quest to stay in the Championship but unfortunately he wasn’t provided with the funds required.

His biggest loss was striker Lewis Grabban who was recalled by Bournemouth before being sent out on loan to fellow Championship club Aston Villa.

His loan additions were lacking Championship experience, particularly young defender Jake Clarke-Salter - who was sent off twice during his short spell at the club.

The goalkeeping problems continued with Lee Camp shipping endless amounts of goals.

Ashley Fletcher, who is now flourishing at Middlesbrough, failed to provide the goods up front scoring just two goals during his loan spell.

A very unsuccessful window for Coleman.

Jack Ross (Summer 2018)

IN

Tom Flanagan (Burton Albion) Free

Chris Maguire (Bury) Free

Jon McLaughlin (Hearts) Free

Alim Ozturk (Boluspor) Free

Reece James (Wigan Athletic) Free

Dylan McGeouch (Hibernian) Free

Glenn Loovens (Sheffield Wednesday) Free

Jack Baldwin (Peterborough) £200k

Luke O’Nien (Wycombe Wanderers) Undisclosed

Charlie Wyke (Bradford City) £600k

Jerome Sinclair (Watford) Loan

Max Power (Wigan Athletic) Loan/permanent

OUT

Fabio Borini (AC Milan) £5m

Billy Jones (Released)

Jeremain Lens (Besiktas) £3.7m

Kazenga LuaLua (Released)

Paddy McNair (Middlesbrough) £5m

John O’Shea (Released)

Jack Rodwell (Released)

Jason Steele (Brighton) Free

Marc Wilson (Released)

Joel Asoro (Swansea City) £2m

Wahbi Khazri (Saint-Etienne) £6.3m

Callum McManaman (Wigan Athletic) Undisclosed

VERDICT: 9/10

Under new ownership, Jack Ross had a very busy summer ahead of the 2018/19 season making 12 additions.

He acquired many who became first team regulars including goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin, who appeared to solve the Black Cats’ problems in goal, as well as Luke O’Nien who was arguably his best signing operating at right-back or attacking-midfield.

The Black Cats were also ruthless in getting rid of their wantaway players - releasing Jack Rodwell and sacking Papy Djilobodji and Didier N’Dong.

These summer signings formed the core of the squad that meant they reached the final of the Checkatrade Trophy and the League One play-off final, narrowly missing out on promotion to the Championship.