Sunderland are operating with unfamiliar transfer confidence under Florent Ghisolfi. The club's dealings over Granit Xhaka and Dayann Methalie have shown a new transfer-market confidence.
What's behind Sunderland's new approach?
Sunderland's past experiences have often seen the club lose key players to richer or bigger teams. However, under Ghisolfi, the club looks prepared to do everything on their terms.
Sunderland stood firm over Xhaka
The Granit Xhaka saga with Chelsea was a good example. A big-six club wanted one of Sunderland's most important players, but the club stood firm, refusing to sell for the offered price.
Methalie showed the other side
Dayann Methalie's proposed transfer showed the other side of Sunderland's new approach. The club spent weeks pursuing the Toulouse defender but stopped the deal when new information emerged from his medical examinations. With a league standing of 11th in Premier League, 46 pts, 12W-10D-11L from 33 games, and a recent form of LWWLW, Sunderland are looking to build on their current momentum. Their next fixture is against Everton at home on 2027-02-20.
On Sunderland's terms
Sunderland are not trying to rob every club they deal with, but they will not be bullied into selling somebody they want to keep. The club will pay fair money and has shown they are prepared to spend heavily, but they will not let the amount of work already invested in a transfer dictate what happens next.
