Florent Ghisolfi’s contract-first approach aims to protect Sunderland value under new rules | OneFootball

Sunderland are prioritising protection of existing player value alongside arrivals this summer, a theme continuing under Florent Ghisolfi amid tighter domestic and European cost controls.

According to Sunderland Echo, the Premier League’s Squad Cost Ratio caps on-pitch spending at 85 per cent of football revenue plus net profit or loss on player sales, with a 30 per cent allowance. Europa League football also brings UEFA’s stricter 70 per cent limit from 2025-26, sharpening focus on wages, contracts and sell-ons.

That backdrop explains Harrison Jones’ free move to Peterborough United with a sell-on, after Sunderland triggered an extension. Similar extensions for Zak Johnson and Timur Tutierov are expected to retain control even if they depart.

In the SCR era, marginal gains matter. Offloading fringe players clears wages and brings modest fees. Any Nazariy Rusyn sale is expected to mean a loss on the 2023 fee to Zorya Luhansk, but it would be set against his remaining book value, so even a small sum plus wage savings can help.

At the other end, long deals underpin valuations. Eliezer Mayenda, signed from Sochaux for a relatively small fee and tied down until 2030, could command a strong price if Rennes or another club eventually make a serious move.

Anthony Patterson is attracting interest, but a deal to 2028 and a reported £8million to £10million price mean any exit would be on Sunderland’s terms. More broadly, several core players are tied to 2028 and 2029, with an even larger group under contract to 2030.

Source: Sunderland Echo