Régis Le Bris sets Sunderland transfer target for Europa League challenge | OneFootball

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

“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 told The Telegraph.

The Black Cats clinched European qualification on the final day against Chelsea, finishing seventh. It is their first continental campaign since 1973-74 and only their fifth top-10 top-flight finish in 70 years.

Next season will bring a heavier schedule, with at least eight Europa League matches alongside Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup commitments.

Last summer’s recruitment was bold and fruitful, with more than a dozen arrivals shaping a historic campaign. The brief now is to add quality without unsettling the culture and balance built under Le Bris.

The squad are due back in early July before a first friendly at York City on Saturday, July 18. Sunderland then fly to the United States to face Liverpool, Leeds United and Wrexham, return to Europe for a double-header with RC Lens, and finish at home to Stade Rennais on Saturday, August 15, a week before the 2026-27 season begins.

Source: Sunderland Echo