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.
25. Ellis Simms
A very good signing on loan from Everton. It was just a shame that Simms had to return in January last season. 8/10 Photo: FRANK REID
26. Abdoullah Ba
Made some decent contributions for Sunderland last season, including the winning goal away to Norwich but we are yet to see the very best of the youngster though he is steadily finding his feet as a right winger for Michael Beale and has chipped in with a couple of assists and goals this season. 8/10 Photo: Stephen Pond
27. Edouard Michut
A decent enough loan signing but ultimately one that probably didn't work out as expected for both parties. 7.5/10 Photo: Clive Mason
28. Pierre Ekwah
After a shaky start to his Sunderland career, Ekwah was superb towards the back end of Sunderland's season with Ekwah starting the 2023-24 campaign in marvellous form. The midfielder netted two against Southampton and looks to be growing as a midfielder. His form has dipped since then but he still possesses undoubted quality. With the price of that position in the transfer market at the moment, Sunderland have unearthed a real gem. 9.5/10 Photo: George Wood