Régis Le Bris says Sunderland need three or four signings for Europa League load | OneFootball

Régis Le Bris has set out Sunderland’s summer priorities as they prepare to juggle Premier League and European demands.

“It’s going to be different because, on average, a team who starts in Europe is supposed to lose 10 points in the league. So it’s a big challenge. We’ll need three or four more consistent players in different positions, so that we can manage the schedule. And it’s clear, we need to recover quickly, we need to prepare quickly, we need to debrief quickly. So it’s going to be challenging. But it’s not boring, and everybody should be excited.” He was speaking to The Telegraph.

The Black Cats finished seventh, clinching European qualification on the final day against Chelsea, their first continental campaign since 1973-74 and only the club’s fifth top-10 top-flight finish in 70 years.

Next season brings a heavier load, with at least eight Europa League matches alongside the Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup. Last summer’s ambitious rebuild delivered more than a dozen key arrivals, and the focus now is adding quality without disturbing the culture and balance.

The squad are due back in early July, with a first confirmed friendly at York City on Saturday, July 18.

Sunderland will then head to the United States to face Liverpool, Leeds United and Wrexham, before a European double-header against RC Lens. The final warm-up is at home to Stade Rennais on Saturday, August 15, a week before the 2026-27 Premier League kicks off.

Source: Sunderland Echo