Sunderland, who lost 1-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, have won just two of their last eight Premier League games.
Given the recent downturn in form, Black Cats supporters may already be starting to worry about a classic case of second-season syndrome in 2026/27.
In the Premier League, 10 teams that survived the first season have been relegated, and Sunderland is hoping that they will not be one of the 11 teams next season.
Regis Le Bris’ side have already reached the magic 40 points mark and are 12 points clear of the bottom three with eight games left, meaning they should be safe this season.
Sunderland may need to enter the transfer market in the summer to get back to their best and secure enough quality to avoid a disastrous 2026/27 season.
Sunderland’s priorities during the summer
As the summer transfer window begins, the Black Cats will need to sign players who are consistent goal threats throughout the season in a variety of positions.
After 30 Premier League games, no Sunderland player has scored more than five goals in the Premier League, and only four players in the division have scored more than two goals.
The club shelled out a club-record £27 million transfer fee to sign central midfielder Khabib Diarra, who has scored eight goals in two Ligue 1 seasons with Strasbourg.
Sunderland’s richest contract in history
Who are the Black Cats’ record additions?
However, the Senegal international has only scored two goals in the Premier League for Sunderland this season, with no assists in all competitions and has failed to provide a regular threat at the top end of the pitch.
Sunderland therefore need to sign more quality players in front of goal to avoid going through a patch where the team lacks scorers and struggles to score goals.
However, Diarra was not a complete failure at the Stadium of Light, starting 11 of 13 league games, winning 50% of his aerial duels and adding physicality in the middle of the park.
Sunderland’s forwards are fast becoming their biggest failure.
The club and Le Bris may have expected more from Diarra after paying him the club’s highest transfer fee in the club’s history, but the Senegalese star is far from the biggest failure of the season.
Sunderland paid £18m to sign Kemsuddin Talbi from Club Brugge last summer to strengthen their managerial options at the top end of the pitch, but his play has been inconsistent throughout the season.
The Moroccan forward scored seven goals and provided five assists for the Belgian club in the 2024-25 season, but he is unlikely to be able to match or exceed those figures in his first year at the Stadium of Light.
Talvi, unlike Diarra, is not almost guaranteed to be a starter in this season’s Premier League. The winger started just 13 of his 22 games in the top flight and was in and out of the wings.
He has produced rare moments of quality, including his wonder strike against Burnley last month, with three goals and one assist in 22 league games.
The 20-year-old attacker’s all-round play has been so disappointing in the Premier League this season that he has not created a single ‘big chance’ for his team-mates since joining the club for £18m.
25/26PL | Talbi |
|---|---|
Appearance | twenty two |
the goal | 3 |
A big opportunity has arisen | 0 |
assist | 1 |
Key paths per game | 0.5 |
Number of successful dribbles per game | 0.7 |
For a wide player who should be in the squad for other players, averaging one chance every two games is incredibly underwhelming, especially given the sporadic goals and few successful dribbles.
Talvi is still only 20 years old and has time to develop and improve, but Sunderland paid £18 million to sign the forward to strengthen their attack, but so far the results have not paid off.
He looks like an even bigger failure than Diarra, who has contributed more to the team in his regular play and started at a higher rate, which is a concern heading into next season.
Hopefully Talbi will be able to show more consistency as he gains more experience in the Premier League, but considering the fee paid and his results, he looks like the club’s biggest failure this season.
Sunderland make headway against North East in contract talks with Newcastle with 11 goal target
The Black Cats have invaded the race.
