With the frantic transfer window now over and done with, and the opening set of Premier League fixtures finished, Sunderland will appreciate this downtime for the international break.
Indeed, Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats have headed into this mini break with a promising two top-flight victories already picked up, as the whole host of new signings gifted to the Frenchman over a lengthy summer largely impressed.
Therefore, a moment of rest could do the Wearside outfit the world of good, ahead of the fixtures coming thick and fast again, with a trip to Crystal Palace awaiting them next weekend.
Brian Brobbey will no doubt be clamouring for some action at Selhurst Park, having sealed a deadline day move from Ajax to the Stadium of Light to bolster the Black Cats up top, and steal the limelight momentarily as another statement buy at the £21.6m mark.
Brobbey & Diarra: Sunderland's standout summer purchases
In a window that saw Sunderland regularly splash cash excessively, deadline day was no exception for the ambitious Premier League new boys.
Brobbey would go down as the Black Cats’ second most costly purchase of the summer, with pressure now on the Dutchman’s shoulders to live up to the hype that once saw him be dubbed a “goal machine” by scout Jacek Kulig.
From 284 career appearances both in the senior side at the Johan Cruyff Arena and on the youth pitches, the lively 23-year-old has a ridiculous 141 strikes next to his name, with Marc Guiu’s surprise return to Chelsea in the final few days of the window not hurting so much after the late capture of Brobbey was unveiled.
He wasn’t the most expensive capture, however, with that crown being handed to Habib Diarra far earlier in the summer, when he broke Sunderland’s transfer record at the £30m region.
The ex-RC Strasbourg ace has since featured in all four of Sunderland’s competitive games so far this season, with a calm 83% pass accuracy averaged in the Premier League.
Diarra will be hoping he can pick up goals and assists for fun soon, as he grows more used to the testing environment of the English top-flight.
On top of that, one of the Senegal international’s new teammates in the middle will also be praying for more first-team opportunities to come his way, as he staggeringly boasts an even heftier price tag than both the expensive 21-year-old and Brobbey.
Sunderland star looking to outshine Brobbey & Diarra
Le Bris will have plenty of selection headaches to contend with over the course of the season, off the back of a mammoth 15 fresh signings entering the swollen Sunderland ranks this summer.
With the arrival of the £30m-rated Diarra to the building, it has seen the likes of Chris Rigg struggle for gametime early on this campaign, despite the 18-year-old being heralded as a presence that will “obviously play in the Premier League” by commentator Ian Darke last year, after consistently shining bright for Le Bris and Co in their hunt for promotion glory.
Having made his senior debut at just 15, the wide-eyed Rigg has always punched above his weight and shown that he belongs in the taxing environments sprung onto him, with four goals and one assist coming his way last season to help his side achieve promotion.
Unfortunately, with the wide array of talent at Le Bris’ disposal now, the teenage sensation has only been limited to one meagre minute of Premier League action to date.
However, Sunderland will still be very aware of how much a prized asset Rigg is, having tied him down to a new contract until 2030 recently, amid previous interest in his services from the likes of Manchester United.
Even Real Madrid are allegedly keeping a close eye on the 18-year-old, with the big bucks needing to be splashed to obtain such a “phenomenal” talent, as he has been lauded by analyst Ben Mattinson.
Games played
106
Goals scored
10
Assists
5
Positions played
7
Value
£40m
While Black Cats fans far and wide will no doubt bask in the number of standout signings their side has made this summer, they will gain even more joy from Rigg’s sharp rise from academy prospect to first-team regular, with the England U19 international now rumoured to be valued around the £40m mark.
That’s amazingly more than Brobbey’s £21.6m valuation, on top of trumping Diarra’s much-talked-about £30m price by £10m.
For the Wearside outfit’s sake, they will hope they don’t fall victim to another Jobe Bellingham-style sale anytime soon, though, with Rigg surely only getting better at his hometown club if more minutes are afforded to him across the 35-game league marathon to follow.
