Sunderland were busy in the transfer market this summer.
Sunderland finished off their summer transfer business with three more new signings on deadline day, capping off Simon Grayson’s recruitment drive.
Grayson, who left Preston back in June in order to become David Moyes’ replacement at the Stadium of Light, was immediately faced with key exits, given that the likes of Jordan Pickford and Jermain Defoe left the club for Premier League returns.
Given the club’s relegation to the Championship, Sunderland needed major reinforcements, and Grayson may well feel that he has done smart business on a limited budget.
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With Pickford and Vito Mannone both leaving Sunderland, Jason Steele and Robbin Ruiter were brought in as the club’s new goalkeepers, whilst Everton’s defensive duo Tyias Browning and Brendan Galloway both arrived on season-long loan deal.
Grayson moved to land Aiden McGeady and James Vaughan having worked with them at Preston and Huddersfield respectively, whilst Lewis Grabban also joined from Bournemouth.
However, Sunderland weren’t done there, as deadline day saw them snap up Marc Wilson and Callum McManaman on permanent deals, whilst Jonathan Williams arrived on loan from Crystal Palace, bringing Grayson’s intake to ten new signings.
Ahead of Sunderland’s return from international duty, Grayson has real decisions to make on his strongest line-up, with his new signings giving him a perfect chance to play a 4-2-3-1 setup.
Ruiter should emerge as Sunderland’s clear No. 1 between the sticks, whilst Billy Jones, Marc Wilson, Lamine Kone and Bryan Oviedo can form the defence, leaving Browning and Galloway to offer cover across the back four.
A holding midfield duo of Lee Cattermole and Didier Ndong offers tenacity in the middle of the park, putting in the leg work for the creative trio of McGeady, Williams and McManaman to support Grabban in the final third.
That team provides Championship know-how mixed with Premier League experience as well as flair going forward, and this possible line up shows just how impressive Grayson’s summer transfer activity was.
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