Régis Le Bris: The 'idea that Sunderland want to defend' in the summer transfer window
Sunderland are back in action when they face RC Lens on Saturday afternoon
Régis Le Bris believes Sunderland is a more attractive destination for players this summer but insists that the club will not compromise in ensuring they get the right players.
It has been a quiet window for the club so far, with free agent Thomas Meunier the only addition on a two-year contract. The club have been clear that they are prioritising stability but work is ongoing to add a handful of high-calibre players who can improve the squad ahead of a historic campaign.
Le Bris remains confident that the club will get what they need from a difficult market but insists that they will only sign the right player. The head coach says the club policy of signing players with room to grow will remain in place.
The Echo is in France this weekend to provide full coverage of Sunderland’s pre-season clash with RC Lens.
"I think the Premier League is already a privilege as a competition," he said.
"Last season, probably, we were on a newly promoted side so we had to convince players that we were ready to stay in the Premier League. Because the two previous seasons, the three teams promoted got relegated immediately so we had to fight against this idea last season. It's a bit easier this season because we had the success the season before. But the market is really tight, intense, and expensive as well.
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"We want to stay on the same line," Le Bris added.
"Here, Sunderland is a club with a specific identity so the fit with the new signings has to be really clean. It's also a place to develop and to become better. It means that we won't buy a player already ready for the high competition if it means 60, 70, 80 million - it doesn't make sense for us as a club. After that, we'll see. It's hard to say we'll go on that target or the other one. This is more or less the idea we want to defend."
Sunderland are continuing their pursuit of a left back and a right winger, with a left-sided centre back also another possibility. Le Bris has consistently said that he wants to add 'three or four core players' in the window.