Sunderland will once again play in the Premier League after eight years in lower leagues. They achieved this after winning the Championship playoffs, where they showed plenty of grit, scoring stoppage-time winners in both semi-finals and final.
In any case, the Black Cats are back amongst the elite, but they will have to do some work this summer to reinforce their team if they want to have a chance of staying up. Some deals have already been done, but that's far from enough.
So, we will now take a closer look at Sunderland's transfer targets for this summer.
Sunderland transfer targets – summer 2025
Modibo Sagnan
Montpellier
£2.5m
Wilfried Singo
Anderlecht
£21m
Tommy Doyle
Wolves
£8.4m
Joe Gomez
Liverpool
£17m
Jordan Henderson
Ajax
£2.1m
Duje Caleta-Car
Lyon
£5.9m
*Based on Transfermarkt's current valuations. Subject to change.
Modibo Sagnan (Montpellier)
The latest rumour regarding Sunderland's transfers is about Modibo Sagnan, a centre-back who plays for Montpellier. The 26-year-old signed for the French team just last summer, but Montpellier have been relegated this season and they'll be happy to offload any players for the right price.
Sagnan's market value is estimated at £2.5 million, but Sunderland have reportedly already sent an offer worth around £4.2 million, so the two teams will likely find common ground and Sagnan could be joining the Black Cats soon.
Wilfried Singo (Monaco)
Another defender from a French team is reportedly in Sunderland's focus this summer and that's Wilfried Singo, who plays for Monaco. The 24-year-old is primarily a right-back, but can also play other positions in defence, like centre-back.
Singo was a regular starter for Monaco in Ligue 1 last season, so his market value is quite high, around £21 million. That is a hefty price to pay for a newly promoted team, so it remains to be seen whether Sunderland feel Singo is worth that much.
Tommy Doyle (Wolves)
The ex-Man City central midfielder notched 24 appearances for Wolves last season in the Premier League, but he only played a total of 476 minutes. That likely explains why he only recorded one assist in the league, but Tommy Doyle is still just 22 years old and has plenty of potential.
This potential is why Sunderland are interested in Doyle and they would likely give him plenty of opportunities to prove himself. If the Wolves are ready to part ways with Doyle for a reasonable price, he could be moving to Sunderland this summer.
Saba Goglichidze (Empoli)
According to ontheminute, Sunderland are one of two Premier League clubs, alongside Nottingham Forest, currently eyeing a move for Empoli defender Saba Goglichidze.
Sunderland see Goglichidze as a long-term investment rather than a short-term fix. His Serie A experience and adaptability—able to play both centre-back and right-back—could give manager Regis Le Bris tactical flexibility.
The financials involved would be relatively significant for a 20-year-old, as Empoli are expected to demand around €8 million.
Yet Sunderland’s ascent to the Premier League, coupled with fresh financial backing, means they may be capable of forking out such a fee.
Joe Gomez (Liverpool)
One of the hottest players this summer is Joe Gomez. The experience of the occasional English international is tempting for many clubs, despite Gomez only playing in nine Premier League matches last season.
The defender's market value remains high, around £17 million, but Liverpool are reportedly asking £25 million to let Gomez go. Another recently promoted team is also in the race for Gomez, Burnley, so Sunderland will have to beat more than a few competitors to ensure his signature.
Jordan Henderson (Ajax)
Henderson will turn 35 this summer, but the renowned midfielder with 84 caps for England under his belt is still valued as a player. After all, he did have 28 appearances for Ajax in the Eredivisie last season, helping the Amsterdam team get back to title contention after a few seasons of mediocrity.
In any case, Sunderland could use Henderson's experience, leadership, and versatility. On top of that, Henderson shouldn't be a pricey acquisition considering his age and current market value of around £2 million.
Vladyslav Vanat (Dynamo Kyiv)
According to the Daily Express, Sunderland have reportedly surged to the front of the pack in the chase for Dynamo Kyiv striker Vladyslav Vanat.
The 23-year-old Ukrainian has been in red-hot form, finishing as Dynamo’s top scorer with 17 league goals and 21 in all competitions in the 2024–25 season.
He helped guide the team to another Ukrainian Premier League title and has made his mark on the international scene already with two goals already while also finding the back of the net during the U-21 European Championship.
Dynamo Kyiv are reported to value Vanat at around £21 million, and while it is unclear if Sunderland are willing to meet that price, the Black Cats are in continuous talks with Vanat's entourage.
Duje Caleta-Car (Lyon)
There’s no denying that the Black Cats’ backline lacks a certain level of consistency. Perhaps that’s why coach Le Bris opted to look into the possibility of signing Duje Caleta-Car. At the age of 28, the Croatian centre-back has quite the experience behind him. The former Saint took part in 13 Premier League games back in the 2022/23 campaign, which is something Le Bris values highly. Rumours have it that the French giants are prepared to cash in on the experienced defender, looking for a bid of around £5.9m.
It will be interesting to see if Sunderland are prepared to pay his current market price, as Caleta-Car has only a season left on his Lyon deal. Maybe Les Gones will have to meet Sunderland halfway and accept a less-impressive pay for their player’s services.
Whisper + hot topic: Jamie Vardy (free agent)
According to a report from Fichajes, Sunderland have joined the race for Premier League veteran striker Jamie Vardy.
The 38-year-old forward, a Premier League winner and one of the most iconic English strikers of the last decade, is weighing up his options after more than a decade of service at Leicester.
While he has hinted at retirement in the past, interest from several Championship and lower-tier Premier League clubs has reignited talks of a swansong season, and Sunderland have now emerged as a possible destination.
