In his time at the Academy of Light, the former Birmingham City man has overseen a radical overhaul of the club’s playing squad with the Wearsiders’ focusing on their academy, and buying young players to be nurtured and blooded in the first team.
It is a strategy that has produced results, with Speakman providing a squad that Alex Neil managed to brilliantly turn into promotion winners following Lee Johnson’s under-achievement.
However, with any recruitment strategy, there are pros and cons. Speakman has been criticised in some quarters for not providing Sunderland with enough depth, as evidenced by the injuries to Ross Stewart and the recall of Ellis Simms which left Tony Mowbray without any senior strikers for large parts of last season. Sunderland then failed to sign an experienced striker during the last January window.
Here, though, we drill down into every signing sanctioned by Speakman since his arrival at the club and rate them from one to ten.
21. Jewison Bennette
The early signs on the Costa Rica international were extremely promising following his goal at Watford but the attacker needs to play more. Bennette produced a great cameo against Southampton and definitely has something. Fans are looking forward to his development at Sunderland after he returns from his loan stint in Greece. 7/10 Photo: Frank Reid
22. Aji Alese
Alese has looked good so far and the logic behind the transfer is once again clear to see. Had Alese not sustained serious injuries last season, his score could have been even higher. 8/10 Photo: Ian Horrocks
23. Alex Bass
Sunderland needed a second-choice goalkeeper and Alex Bass was available. Hard to judge him on one game against Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup last season and the stopper has since headed out on loan. Very much a squad filler signing and one that needed to be made. 5/10 Photo: Naomi Baker
24. Amad Diallo
Signing Amad Diallo on loan from Manchester United turned out to be a massive coup for the club. 10/10 Photo: FRANK REID 2022