Florent Ghisolfi sets out clear Sunderland summer transfer strategy after Europa League qualification

Florent Ghisolfi says stability is still the aim for Sunderland in this summer's transfer market despite the club's expanded fixture schedule.

The Black Cats finished the Premier League campaign strongly and booked a place in the Europa League for next season. Sunderland's director of football has previously said that the club wanted to focus on quality rather than quantity and has said that remains the case.

While a minimum of eight additional games means Sunderland will need more depth for the campaign ahead, Ghisolfi says it doesn't fundamentally change the club's approach this summer. Describing last summer's recruitment drive as a 'sprint' following promotion to the Premier League, Ghisolfi says this summer will be a 'marathon' to find the right players to fit the squad.

"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."

Ghisolfi faced a major challenge to recruit players last summer given promoted teams had previously endured such difficulties in staying in the Premier League, something that was helped significantly by the arrival of Granit Xhaka. Ghisolfi says the club will be a very attractive proposition to players this time around but added that the club are also far more precise in terms of what they are looking to recruit.

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Why Sunderland are an attractive destination for players this summer

"We are more attractive, for sure," Ghisolfi said.

"But also we are more demanding and difficult, I think. As I said, for sure we are attractive, but it will be a different market. We want less volume and more precision. But for sure we are more attractive because of the club, because of the Europa League. I think everyone knew that this club is a huge club but they were waiting for confirmation. And now they have the confirmation: Okay, they can stay in the league and it may be better. So for me it's a very positive thing."

Speaking in an interview with The Telegraph earlier this month, Régis Le Bris said the club would need 'three or four more consistent players' to cope with the additional demands of Europa League football. While keen to embrace the opportunity of European qualification, Le Bris has equally made clear that the club's second season in the Premier League will be the key focus.

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