Pundit reacts to new Sunderland odds on 2026/27 Europa League and Premier League fortunes

Pundit Brian Deane has shared his thoughts on what he thinks Sunderland will achieve during the 2026/27 season amid new odds that have just dropped.

The Black Cats remarkably finished seventh during the 2025/26 season to land a Europa League berth. The initial aim was just to survive, but a great start led to confidence aplenty.

While Sunderland endured a rough patch during the campaign, a brilliant finish saw the club shoot up the table and earn European qualification.

Regis Le Bris' men have been given odds of 40/1 to win the Europa League, a feat that Deane says is not out of the question by any means amid Premier League success in the competition this year.

Deane spoke to the Sunderland Echo thanks to BritishGambler. According to UK sportsbook comparison site BritishGambler, football fans are expected to wager more than £1 billion before the start of the Premier League season.

Brian Deane on Sunderland’s 26/27 chances

And specifically on Sunderland's European hopes and how they'll fare in the Premier League next season, here's what Deane had to say.

"I think if you look at what Crystal Palace and Aston Villa did, you would have to say that they can follow the way they approach the season. It certainly wouldn't do them any harm!

"I think there are some things that you need to be careful of, and I suppose because Sunderland, it's their second season in the Premier League, you have second season syndrome. The fact that they've actually qualified for Europe is another warning, shall we say, another thing where they're going to have to recruit well for their squad. If they don't, they're going to overuse players, but they've got to get the right quality in.

"I think, from my point of view, I really like the way they've recruited. They've recruited solid players and athletes.

“Technically, they're able to compete. They've also been very good at recruiting Granit Xhaka, who has come in as that kind of elder figure. He's obviously got the respect of everybody, but it's just the way they've built their squad has been fantastic this season.

"Nobody fancied them because they came up through the playoffs. And actually, some people say they've overachieved, I'm sure, but Sunderland, they won't say that much."

Brian Deane on keys to avoiding second-season syndrome

Sunderland are also down as 23/10 to be relegated during 26/27, with Deane explaining how the Black Cats can avoid the second-season syndrome.

"Well, they've got more games. They’ve got all the league games, FA Cup and League Cup games, and then they've got Europe as well. I think what's very important and one thing that nobody really talks about, unless you understand what's going on inside clubs, is having a good medical department and a good strength and conditioning department. If you haven't got that, then you're going to pick up injuries," Deane, who briefly played for Sunderland in 2005, added.

"I'm just saying that if I’m coming in and doing checks and balances, that's one of the things I would say. Make sure that you have a very good strength, conditioning and medical department. Realistically, you need all of those things, especially with the amount of games that they're going to play.

"Recruitment is key. They've got to recruit the right type of players. It's not going to be inexpensive, but as I said before, I was really impressed with the recruitment Sunderland did to come into the Premier League. So I don't really have any fears for them. I think it's an exciting place to be. Looking at the manager, what he's done, looking at the way the owner approaches the club, I think that it's an exciting time to be a Sunderland fan."

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