Florent Ghisolfi makes behind-scenes hire at Sunderland with key remit for summer transfer window
Sunderland have begun their work for the summer transfer window
Florent Ghisolfi has moved to further bolster his recruitment operation at Sunderland.
As per journalist Matteo Moretto, the club have moved to bring in Matteo Serra to work on their summer transfer programme. It's understood that Serra's responsibility will be working on player exits and loan management, supporting director of football Ghisolfi in an important transfer window for the club.
Serra most recently worked as head of recruitment at Greek top-tier club PAOK, who finished third last season. He has a wealth of experience in the European game, having previously worked at Juventus, PSG and Lille amongst others in various recruitment roles.
Outgoings will be a crucial part of Sunderland's transfer work at Sunderland, with a number of players not set to be part of Régis Le Bris's plans next season looking for moves. A number of the club's younger players are also being lined up for loan moves in order to ensure that they can play regularly, including striker Ahmed Abdullahi.
Ghisolfi has made clear that the club are targeting stability in this summer's transfer window, but managing outgoings well is key to managing the club's wage bill and maintaining their strong position within the Premier League's new SCR rules.
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What Florent Ghisolfi has previously said about transfer plans this summer
Ghisolfi will oversee Serra's work as he leads his revamped recruitment department through the window, having confirmed last week that the club were expecting a much quieter summer in terms of incomings.
"I believe in the stability season after season," Ghisolfi said.
"My example is more Athletic Bilbao, where they don't have the choice and they have stability. Some clubs can change 15 players a year, we don't want that. Of course last summer we needed this refreshment, I have to say. But for this summer I prefer stability, I prefer to work on the team and the players we have. We are finding connection and this is the most important thing.
"I'm not sure we need more quantity, we need more quality. The only thing I'm sure, if someone is coming in the team, because we have this cohesion, it needs to be a fit with the Sunderland values. I like to think that last summer was a rush, was a sprint. For me this one is a marathon, more precise."