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Sunderland fall to heavy 3-0 defeat against Heartspublished at 19:03 BST 26 July
19:03 BST 26 July
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Sunderland fell to a disappointing 3-0 defeat against Scottish Premiership side Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday afternoon.
Head coach Regis Le Bris did name a strong side for the Craig Gordon testimonial match - as the Black Cats continue to prepare for life in the Premier League - but key figures Anthony Patterson, Chris Rigg and Wilson Isidor were still absent through injury.
Le Bris made eight changes at 70 minutes, fielding a much younger side with a number of players playing out of position, but it still wasn't enough to find the back of the net.
Their attention will now turn to their next pre-season friendly against Championship side Hull City on Tuesday, 29 July (19:45 BST).
Sunderland launch new home kit for Premier League returnpublished at 17:01 BST 24 July
17:01 BST 24 July
Image source, Sunderland FC
Sunderland have launched their 2025-26 home kit which is "inspired by the past and designed for the future".
The shirt takes influence from the 1986-88 design and sees the crest return to a central position for the first time since the 1990s.
There is also a nod to Wearside as the white stripes feature "a subtle vertical pattern inspired by the designs of the brand-new Keel Crossing bridge".
'The best possible team' - Gordon prepares for Sunderland reunionpublished at 12:18 BST 23 July
12:18 BST 23 July
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Craig Gordon has been reflecting on his time at the Sunderland before his Hearts testimonial.
The Black Cats will travel to Scotland to face Gordon's boyhood and current side at Tynecastle on Saturday.
Gordon made 94 appearances for Sunderland between 2007 and 2012, including 87 in the Premier League.
"They are the best possible team to come up and play with my links to both clubs," the 42-year-old told BBC Radio Newcastle.
"It was the obvious choice and when I found out they were able to I was delighted.
"The fans at Sunderland were excellent with me. It is a city that just loves football. That was the one thing that I will always remember from my time there - how much the people were onside and always supported the club.
"That's not always the case in your career, that people are that passionate and care that much about the club. To have the fans come up in their numbers and share in this occasion would always be my number-one choice.
"I'm really looking forward to getting the chance to thank the Sunderland fans for my time there.
"In football, you don't often get the chance to say goodbye. You move on and that's the next chapter of your career. I've never had the chance to go back.
"There are still some people there from when I was there so I'm looking forward to seeing them."
Gossip: Xhaka agrees terms but Ten Hag reluctant to lose midfielderpublished at 07:18 BST 23 July
07:18 BST 23 July
Granit Xhaka has agreed terms with Sunderland, with the club now in talks with Bayer Leverkusen over a fee for the 32-year-old Switzerland midfielder. (Times - subscription required, external)
Gossip: Black Cats remain interested in Xhakapublished at 07:33 BST 22 July
07:33 BST 22 July
Sunderland and Fenerbahce remain interested in Granit Xhaka, despite Bayer Leverkusen rejecting both their bids for the 32-year-old Switzerland midfielder. (Florian Plettenberg), external
Gossip: Sunderland withdraw from Lauriente dealpublished at 07:34 BST 21 July
07:34 BST 21 July
Sunderland have pulled out of a £17.5m deal to bring in 26-year-old French forward Armand Lauriente from Italian club Sassuolo. (Northern Echo, external)
Highly-rated Sunderland and England youth keeper Matty Young, 19, could return for a second spell on loan at League Two Salford. (Sunderland Echo, external)
Sunderland 'still need strength in depth'published at 13:36 BST 17 July
13:36 BST 17 July
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Sunderland are still "looking to bring more players in" as they prepare for their Premier League return, says BBC Radio Newcastle Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes.
Speaking on the Total Sport show, Barnes said: "[Making transfers] is not over. Kristjaan Speakman has been - I think he used the word 'loose' with how much information he is giving out.
"Both he and Regis le Bris said on Saturday they are looking to bring more players in. They still need strength in depth. The feeling is that it's the spine of the side – goalkeeper, midfielder, forward. The loan market will also be exploited over next few weeks.
"They have got good business done already and, as Regis has pointed out, the sooner you can get them in the building, the sooner you can get them integrated into the processes.
"Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi [has been linked] and he has very impressive statistics. Very calm, very collected - and one quote said that if you play a bad ball back to him then he deals with it very calmly – which may be important for Sunderland this season."
After the Black Cats were also linked with former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, Barnes added: "He is experienced. He knows the Premier League. The key, as far as the manager and board are concerned, is they need players who will slot into a Premier League team and not be out of their depth.
"When you look where Sunderland have come from last season, they are going to need a lot of players who are prepared to play at this level.
"The gap is still big between the Championship and the Premier League. As excited as people are getting, what is being done and the numbers, it is still a big ask."
Should McCann and Rae have made underrated Sunderland players list?published at 13:36 BST 17 July
13:36 BST 17 July
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Former Sunderland defender Darren Williams selcted Lee Cattermole, Marcus Stewart, Andy Reid, Chris Maguire and Luke O'Nien as his five most underrated players the club has had in the 21st Century.
We asked for your thoughts on his selections:
Sean: O'Nien is a worthy winner. Consistency, longevity and playing through injuries, as well as leadership on and off the pitch. Maguire wasn't underrated, though - he had a great game in him but nowhere near often enough. Gavin McCann would be my pick to replace him - an unsung player in our best years, while Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips took the acclaim.
Tait: Cattermole was a top underrated player. He could tackle, pass short or long, motivate team-mates and much more. At a time when Sunderland weren't great, and perhaps some players weren't bothered, he never gave less than 100%.
Luke: There are about 50 players better than Maguire I can think of...
Simon: Agree Cattermole was a massively underrated and hugely important player for us. Terrific servant - more so given his Middlesbrough roots. I would also put Alex Rae on my list, another wholehearted lad who led by example.
'Refreshing' signings but Sunderland need a 'proven quality' strikerpublished at 09:05 BST 17 July
09:05 BST 17 July
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Former Sunderland forward Martin Smith believes "everything seems to be on the right path" before the club's return to the Premier League next month, with the Black Cats' transfer window spending already hitting £100m.
"The intent of the signings has been refreshing compared with years gone by," Smith told BBC Radio Newcastle's Simon Pryde. "We are doing it early and we are spending a lot of money.
"I'm sure the players that are coming in have a bit of realism about them that this isn't going to be easy, but they are coming to stay up and be Premier League players - there is no doubt about that.
"The lads that got to the Premier League with us, through the Championship, there is no way they are going to want to give up their spot in this league easily.
"Everything about the club seems to be on the right path, so there is no reason why it can't translate on the pitch as well."
On whether Sunderland should be looking at signing a 15-goal-per-season striker, Smith added: "The hardest thing about the Premier League is creating chances and being clinical with them. You're not going to get as many as you did in the Championship.
"Have we got someone like Kevin Phillips at the minute? Someone who can step into the Premier League and score that many goals? Probably not.
"I wouldn't be massively concerned if Eliezer Mayenda and Wilson Isidor were leading the line, though, because you don't know how players are going to step up. You see lads going into the Premier League and taking it by storm, but I would still like to see someone with a bit more proven quality."
'Heart on his sleeve' - is this Sunderland's most underrated player?published at 15:05 BST 16 July
15:05 BST 16 July
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Earlier on Wednesday, we revealed numbers five to two in former defender Darren Williams' list of this century's most underrated Sunderland players. And now it's time to tell you his 'winner'.
In first place, Williams has gone for midfielder Luke O'Nien, who has made more than 300 appearances for the Black Cats since joining the club in 2018.
Speaking about the 30-year-old on a BBC Radio Newcastle special, Williams said: "When you can play in different positions, it can take quite a lot.
"O'Nien has been put in that situation quite a few times. We know he has got a character, but he wears his heart on his sleeve, digs in and would put his neck on the line for anybody.
"He is a fantastic character, Sunderland through and through - and long may that continue."
So to recap Williams' list:
5. Lee Cattermole
4. Marcus Stewart
3. Andy Reid
2. Chris Maguire
1. Luke O'Nien
What do you make of the selections? Did Williams miss any players out?
'Created some fantastic moments' and 'a great character'published at 12:33 BST 16 July
12:33 BST 16 July
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Throughout Wednesday we will be revealing who former Sunderland defender Darren Williams has selected in his list of the Black Cats' five most underrated players of the 21st Century.
In third place, Williams chose winger Andy Reid:
"He had great ability, but to his own detriment he was a bit up and down at times. He created some fantastic moments. And it wasn't just his goalscoring - he created a lot of goals for other people.
"Because his form was up and down at times, he was probably overlooked by a lot of people."
In second place, he picked striker Chris Maguire:
"He was a great character who worked hard for the side. He had ability, but sometimes it fluctuated. I don't think he got as much of the limelight as he should have [but] he did a fantastic job for the club."
Come back later to see who Williams has at the top of his list...
'A fiery type' and 'a fantastic goalscorer' - Sunderland's most underrated playerspublished at 11:09 BST 16 July
11:09 BST 16 July
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Former Sunderland defender Darren Williams has selected his top-five most underrated Black Cats players over the past 25 years.
As part of a BBC Radio Newcastle special, he chose midfielder Lee Cattermole in fifth place:
"Cattermole was a fiery type of lad. Maybe he spent a little bit of time getting sent off or bookings and missing games.
"He's at that level for a reason. They haven't just put him in to kick people - he's got quality and he's a good player."
In fourth place, Williams chose striker Marcus Stewart:
"A fantastic goalscorer and his work-rate was phenomenal. He was a great team player, a great team-mate and I think he probably didn't reach that pinnacle.
"He maybe got overshadowed by the likes of Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips, but he is probably one player around that time who you would have had in your squad."
Come back to this page throughout Wednesday to see the rest of Williams' picks.
'It may not be necessary for some players to stay' - Le Brispublished at 09:58 BST 14 July
09:58 BST 14 July
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Regis Le Bris spoke to BBC Radio Newcastle about Sunderland's pre-season match against South Shields: "It is good to win, but today was more about reconnecting with competitive games.
"[Working with the new signings] is a work in progress. We had to reinforce the squad because the next step is massive. Only one played today, but in the next weeks there will be progressively more on the pitch. We have to build the connection and physical condition."
Le Bris says Abdoullah Ba, Nazariy Rusyn and Ian Poveda are all available to leave the club.
A number of other players must prove themselves in the coming weeks.
When asked about the futures of players like Niall Huggins, Nectarios Triantis and Ahmed Abdullahi: "We will see for every player. I told them that the first two weeks are dedicated for the reconnection. After that, we will have to be clear about different pathways - if some of them need game time and it is not possible here then it is not necessary to stay here."
'It has been a tough road back' - Hugginspublished at 09:06 BST 14 July
09:06 BST 14 July
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Niall Huggins spoke to BBC Radio Newcastle after Sunderland's 4-0 pre-season victory against South Shields.
The defender has been ruled out since suffering a knee injury in December 2023.
He explained: "It's been great to be back there, it's been a long time. I'm feeling good and I just want to get back to how I was feeling two years ago.
"It is really underestimated how tough it is mentally. Last time, I had a good run of games and something happens out of nowhere. It has been a tough road back with so many ups and downs. I am just appreciative to be back on the pitch and play football again.
"We all believe we can do it [in the Premier League] and everyone is looking forward to it. We have a really strong team which we are improving in the off-season. We are going to do what we can to stay up and compete. We are all looking forward to the challenge."
'I expect Adingra to hit the ground running'published at 08:02 BST 11 July
08:02 BST 11 July
Johnny Cantor BBC Radio Sussex reporter
Image source, Getty Images
I do not think it is a major surprise Simon Adingra has moved on this summer because of the pecking order at Brighton.
Last season he drifted down the list slightly and you could see his frustration with that.
Some of his body language at times was not great but he did still contribute off the bench and still had an eye for goal.
Adingra just felt like he should be starting games and that was not happening.
He is a good all-rounder and he is pretty pacy. He carries the ball and moves across the ground well.
He has played on the left and Brighton fans got used to seeing him cut in. One criticism early on was that his final ball was a bit erratic and frustrating, but that has certainly improved in the past 18 months, along with his decision-making.
He likes to cut inside from the left and, with his eye for goal, he loves a curling ball into the far right corner. So he is a goal threat.
I think Adingra will be really pleased to go to Sunderland because he is staying in the Premier League.
Gossip: Sunderland attempt to extend Mundlepublished at 07:55 BST 11 July
07:55 BST 11 July
Sunderland are in talks with English winger Romaine Mundle about signing a new contract, as the 22-year-old has attracted interested from PSV Eindhoven. (Sky Sports), external
Adingra ready 'for big challenge ahead'published at 17:28 BST 10 July
17:28 BST 10 July
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Simon Adingra says it was an easy decision to join Sunderland and he is looking forward to the "big challenge ahead" at the Stadium of Light.
The 23-year-old Ivory Coast winger made 33 appearances for Brighton last season, including 29 in the Premier League.
"It's a pleasure to be here, and I cannot wait to get started," said Adingra, who has arrived for an initial £21m on a five-year contract.
"The club and the project are really exciting. I spoke with everyone and their interest in me made the decision easy. I wanted to be part of Sunderland's future.
"Playing in the Premier League has been a dream of mine since I was a kid, so to continue doing that is incredible.
"It's a big challenge ahead. We'll be facing top players and strong opponents - but I'm ready for it."
Adingra is Sunderland's sixth signing of the summer as they make the step up to the top flight.
Image source, Getty Images
