Similar to recent fuel prices in the UK, Sunderland Football Club have reached unimaginable highs in the Premier League throughout the 2025/26 season.
From scoring twice against Newcastle United to away wins against Chelsea and more, it was a truly memorable campaign for Black Cats supporters.
But as seen at many gas stations across the country, demand is getting higher and higher as the weeks go by, and Regis Le Bris and the Stadium of Light are having to deal with that too.
With the club outperforming their Tyne-Wear rivals and looking set for another year at the top level, it will be up to the 50-year-old to continue delivering the success that fans have become accustomed to.
The board will no doubt spend big again during this period to accelerate progress under the French manager, but signing a player who has struck a chord with the fans like Jermain Defoe could do well.
The statistics behind Jermain Defoe’s success at Sunderland
Back in January 2015, Sunderland secured the services of the former England international from Toronto FC and failed Jozy Altidore moved in the opposite direction.
He spent two-and-a-half years in the senior ranks at Wearside, making 93 appearances across all competitions and finding the back of the net 37 times for the Black Cats.
His efforts saw him quickly become a fan favorite at the Stadium of Light, and he also managed to score 15 goals in two separate campaigns in the top flight.
Defoe was a striker who won the hearts of fans and played a big role in the life of young supporter Bradley Lowry with his exploits off the field.
The now-retired forward was unable to keep the club in the top division despite his impressive goalscoring performance and ended up leaving in the summer of 2017.
He still ranks second on the club’s all-time Premier League goalscoring list and is a legend at the North East club, with his lasting influence both on and off the field.
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After securing a return to the top flight, it was important for Sunderland to spend heavily on various areas of the squad to give them the best chance of avoiding an immediate return to the second tier.
Brian Brobby was signed from Ajax for £21 million including add-ons, and the Dutchman was tasked with providing supplies, just as Defoe had done in his final spell in the Premier League.
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The 24-year-old has already scored six goals so far this season, with his latest goal against local rivals Newcastle securing bragging rights for supporters.
He still has a long way to go before he can emulate the Englishman’s level, but he has certainly made a great start to his career on Wearside.
But another player in the team is starting to look like the next Defoe at the Stadium of Light, with full-back Dennis Cirkin following in the attacker’s footsteps.
The Latvian international joined from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2021 for a reported £1 million. It’s a team that the striker has been part of before during his career.
Like Defoe, he made an immediate impact at the Stadium of Light, going on to make 41 appearances during his debut season with the club, who were eliminated in League One.
He remained a consistent first-team starter throughout the Championship, making 39 appearances during last season’s promotion-winning season.
However, he has recently fallen victim to the club’s heavy investment, with the 24-year-old trailing summer addition Reinild in Le Bris’ pecking order.
Sirkin has only played in seven league games this season, starting just three of those, with his last start coming in January.
Shortest PL appearance time with Sunderland (2025/26) | |
|---|---|
player | minutes |
and neil | 13 |
Patrick Roberts | 27 |
Jocelyn Tabbi | 39 |
Arthur Masuaku | 127 |
jenson selt | 134 |
Luke O’Nien | 227 |
Nilsson Angulo | 257 |
Melkar Elborg | 270 |
Dennis Sirkin | 302 |
Romaine Mandre | 400 |
After emerging with the Black Cats, the former Spurs star will no doubt be disappointed by his lack of action and that could lead to him leaving for pastures new in the summer.
His current contract is due to expire this summer, but it remains unclear whether the leaders will offer the left-back a new deal or allow him to leave on a free transfer.
Reinild’s form has certainly limited his playing time in the top flight this term, and Sarkin needs consistent playing time if he is to continue to develop at the top level.
If he were to leave, it would be a sad sight, especially given the effort he has put in to help the club return from the depths of League One to the Premier League.
However, as with Defoe, all good things sadly come to an end and he will no doubt be targeting further reinforcements to strengthen his squad over the summer.
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