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

Régis Le Bris said: “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.”

He was speaking to The Telegraph.

Sunderland finished seventh in their first season back in the top flight, sealing Europe at Chelsea on the final day. It is the club’s first European campaign since 1973-74 and only their fifth top-10 finish in 70 years.

Next season they must balance Premier League duties with at least eight Europa League games, alongside the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Last summer’s ambitious recruitment, more than a dozen arrivals, underpinned a historic year. The brief now is to add quality without unsettling the culture and balance built under Le Bris.

“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.”

The first team are expected to return in early July before a first friendly at York City on Saturday, July 18. The United States leg follows against Liverpool, Leeds United and Wrexham, then a European double-header with 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