Sunderland's squad market value compared to Premier League rivals ahead of January transfers
How does Sunderland's squad market value compare to the rest of the Premier League ahead of any potential January signings?
The January transfer window is now open, giving clubs a chance to strengthen their squads for the second half of the campaign.
For Sunderland, it may turn out to be a quiet, measured window. The Black Cats eighth after 20 games with 30 points and just four defeats on the board - already sitting 16 points clear of the relegation zone and just four adrift of the top four. Sunderland spent big in the summer, and there’s no doubt the number and quality of their signings have given them a huge boost in competing at the Premier League level. But it also means there really isn’t a great need to splash more cash this January.
Regis Le Bris may choose to make a couple of precision strikes on key areas of his squad, without overturning the togetherness he’s fostered within the group. Off the back of that summer outlay and before any signings in January are contemplated, how does Sunderland’s squad market value stack up against the rest of the Premier League, according to Transfermarkt?
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How Sunderland’s squad market value compares to Premier League rivals
- Arsenal - €1.31bn
- Man City - €1.21bn
- Chelsea - €1.18bn
- Liverpool - €1.04bn
- Tottenham Hotspur - €838.5m
- Man Utd - €719.15m
- Newcastle United - €713.2m
- Nottingham Forest - €627.6m
- Crystal Palace - €536.6
- Aston Villa - €527.5m
- Brighton - €526.5m
- Bournemouth - €474.45m
- Brentford - €455.9m
- Everton - €402.05m
- West Ham United - €383.25m
- Sunderland - €364.13m
- Wolves - €357.85m
- Fulham - €355.95m
- Leeds United - €313.03m
- Burnley - €252.15m
Sunderland’s squad value of €364.13m is the fifth-lowest in the Premier League, and has actually decreased by €0.92m from December. However, it’s still the highest of the three newly-promoted sides, and just ahead of Wolves and Fulham.
The Black Cats’ most valuable player is record signing Habib Diarra at €32m, but he’s just one of eight players at the club with a market value of €20m or more: Noah Sadiki (€25m), Chris Rigg (€25m), Simon Adingra (€22m), Chemsdine Talbi (€22m), Lutsharel Geertruida (€20m), Brian Brobbey (€20m) and Enzo Le Fee (€20m). It’s no surprise that the supposed ‘big six’ and Newcastle United occupy the top seven positions, while Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool are the only four sides to boast market values above the €1bn mark.
What has Regis Le Bris said about January transfers?
As mentioned, it’s unlikely to see Sunderland freely spending like they did in the summer. Indeed, Regis Le Bris himself has confirmed the club will take a more measured approach to the winter window, carefully targeting only the ‘right players’. “I don't think we'll rush this process, because we are in a good place,” he said at the end of December. “I think, and it's really important to find the right player to fit with our system, so it's always a question of different elements, because you have the player, you have the club, you have us, and so it's not an easy task, we'll see.
“When we say two or three spots in the squad, that means that our focus is oriented on these positions. But we don't know if we will find the right targets. So you know that maybe you can reinforce this part of the squad, this part, this part. At the end, maybe we will have zero, or one, or two, or three. We don't know, because it's connected as well with the outgoing players. So we'll see.”