Sunderland’s £242m summer revolution: Régis Le Bris starting XI and bench of all-new signings – gallery

Sunderland’s return to the Premier League has sparked a wave of speculation – and if every player the club has been linked with this summer were signed, the Stadium of Light could soon play host to an entirely new-look squad worth more than £240million.

From experienced internationals like Jordan Henderson and Joe Gomez, to rising stars such as Vladyslav Vanat and Matthis Abline, the Black Cats have reportedly shown interest in a staggering range of talent across Europe and beyond. With the club now operating in the top flight again, and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman openly scouting overseas, ambition appears to be growing on Wearside.

This summer’s rumour mill has been relentless – from free agents to big-money targets, Sunderland have been credited with interest in players at Ajax, Liverpool, AS Monaco, Atalanta, and beyond. While it’s unlikely every deal would be done, the speculation gives us a fascinating glimpse into the type of squad the club is trying to build: strong, technical, and Premier League-ready.

So, what if every link was real? Below, for a little bit of fun, we’ve built a starting XI and subs bench made entirely of players Sunderland have been linked with – and it’s worth a staggering £241.4million.