While Premier League clubs scramble to try and strengthen their squad’s before the deadline tonight, the Black Cats know they have until October 16th to make their final additions.
So while supporters wait for those deals to emerge, we’ve taken a trip down memory lane to recall Sunderland’s lively history with one of the most discussed days of the football calendar, ranking each one from the last ten years, from worse to best...
13. SUMMER 2011 - NICKLAS BENDTNER
Lord Bendtner's reputation would come to precede him, but the Dane was an effective target man for his year-long loan on Wearside.
The departures of Gyan and Darren Bent meant that goals were a struggle throughout the season for Sunderland, but Bendtner managed eight, including one at St James' Park. His form was good during the early days of Martin O'Neill's tenure, which produced some remarkable results even if the goals rarely flowed. Photo: Matthew Lewis
14. SUMMER 2010 - ASAMOAH GYAN
Sunderland broke their transfer record fifteen minutes before the deadline to bring in Asamoah Gyan from Rennes.
It was a hugely exciting deal, given Gyan's role at the heart of a vibrant Ghana side who had made the World Cup quarter-finals just months previous.
Gyan scored ten goals for the club, including one memorable performance at Stamford Bridge, but his time on Wearside came to a disappointing end after just one year when the striker moved to Al Ain. Photo: Michael Regan
15. SUMMER 2012 - DANNY ROSE
Rose proved to be an inspirational loan signing, named young player of the year after a season of excellent performances.
The left-back would use that spell as springboard to launch his Tottenham Hotspur career, going on to be a mainstay in Mauricio Pochettino's upwardly-mobile side.
Rose kept a close connection to the club where he had so thrived, returning to the Stadium of Light to watch a game as recently as 2018. Photo: Richard Heathcote
16. SUMMER 2013 - FABIO BORINI & ANDREA DOSSENA
Few Sunderland players get to mark their debut with a derby win, but Dossena did exactly that as Newcastle United were beaten 2-1 at the Stadium of Light.
Borini of course marked his arrival in quite spectacular fashion that day, his stunning long-range effort securing the three points. Dossena was sent off in his next appearance against Hull City, and made little impact before being replaced by the popular loanee Marcos Alonso.
Borini was a talismanic figure throughout a memorable campaign, an integral part of the side that reached the League Cup final (in which he scored) and pulled off the most remarkable of escapes from the bottom three. Photo: Mark Runnacles