The Black Cats were beaten 2-1 by Middlesbrough on Sunday.
Sunderland manager David Moyes before the match
Kevin Kilbane has told BBC Sport that he believes Sunderland need six or seven signings who can have an instant impact.
The Black Cats have made four new signings so far, with Papy Djilobodji, Paddy McNair, Donald Love and Adnan Januzaj arriving at the Stadium of Light.
It is fair to say that those signings are not players who will have an instant impact though, with McNair and Love very much players for the future.
Sunderland’s Papy Djilobodji in action with Middlesbrough’s Antonio Barragan
With Younes Kaboul having departed, Lamine Kone also looking likely to leave and Yann M’Vila not returning on loan as yet, Moyes is without three of their key players from last season.
And Kilbane believes he needs as many as seven signings that can make an instant impact or it may be a hard season for them.
“I am surprised Sunderland manager David Moyes warned fans to expect a relegation battle – but I can understand why,” he told BBC Sport.
“I think he needs to sign six or seven players who can have an instant impact otherwise I fear for the Black Cats even with a manager as good as Moyes in charge.”
Sunderland’s Adnan Januzaj warms up before the match
It now remains to be seen if Moyes can secure the signings that his Sunderland side desperately needs before the end of the transfer window.
At this late stage, the kind of quality players the Black Cats need may be hard to acquire and it will be interesting to see what work that Moyes manages to get done.
Sunderland manager David Moyes
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