Whilst having the most expensive squad doesn’t necessarily translate to success on the pitch, it is a good indicator of where a team should expect to finish the season.
Sunderland spent four seasons in League One and had one of the most valuable squads in the division for the majority of their time in the third-tier.
This season will be different as Alex Neil has to navigate a season where the Black Cats don’t start as one of the fancied teams - but just how much of an uphill task does he face?
Here, courtesy of data provided by Transfermarkt, we take a look at the squad values of each Championship side to see where Alex Neil’s side rank ahead of their return to the second-flight.
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1. Norwich City
Current squad market value = £104.04million — Most Valuable Player = Max Aarons (£19.8million) Photo: Pete Norton
2. Watford
Current squad market value = £96.98million — Most Valuable Player = Ismaila Sarr (£24.3million) Photo: Richard Heathcote
3. Sheffield United
Current squad market value = £76.95million — Most Valuable Player = Sander Berge (£14.4million) Photo: Ryan Pierse
4. West Brom
Current squad market value = £61.29million — Most Valuable Player = Daryl Dike (£9million) Photo: ANDY JACOBSOHN