Le Bris can drop Talbi by starting Sunderland’s new version of Sessegnon

Every year, the Premier League enjoys the rise of a surprise package, and Sunderland have succeeded in defying expectations and cementing themselves in the big time after promotion last year.

Across each of the previous two Premier League campaigns, all the newly-promoted outfits have been sucked right back down. This emphasised the growing gulf between the top two tiers, knocking the competitive edge that shapes the English pyramid.

Under Regis Le Bris, the Black Cats have been fluid on the ball and difficult to score against. They are not a free-scoring outfit, but the Stadium of Light has seen fewer goals on either end than every other stadium in the top flight this season, and it’s that formidability that has ensured a happy return.

The summer transfer window was an expensive one for the Wearsiders, but they’ve laid a blueprint for others to follow with their successful spending.

However, it’s interesting that the most expensive fo the lot, Habib Diarra, has struggled to gel with the Sunderland squad.

Habib Diarra’s Sunderland career so far

Last summer, Sunderland signed Diarra from Strasbourg in a club-record £30m deal. While he’s been described as “a leader in this team” by journalist Sam Blitz, the 22-year-old has yet to grow into his skin and take charge on the field.

The Senegalese attacker has improved over the last few months, perhaps fuelled by the AFCON triumph that is now a phantom in his trail.

But there’s still been a lot to be desired, with his lack of creativity and incisiveness on the ball not yet proving that he is worthy to wear the badge of being Sunderland’s most expensive player.

The dynamic midfielder has started each of Sunderland’s past eight Premier League matches, and though he’s imperfect, his energy and physicality have opened doors from which Le Bris is looking to sharpen his team’s attacking edge.

However, Diarra has not yet proved that he should be among the first names on the teamsheet week in and week out.

In fact, there’s a teammate of his who is emerging as the club’s new version of Stephane Sessegnon and who is itching to return to the starting line-up, and he staked a compelling case during the Tyne-Wear Derby.

Le Bris must unleash Sunderland’s new Sessegnon

This Sunderland side are as good as any to have graced the Premier League over the past several decades. However, there are more than a few stars who would make this squad go from strength to strength, Jermain Defoe being one, Sessegnon another.

Now, in Enzo Le Fee, Le Bris may have unearthed Sunderland’s new version of the mercurial attacking midfielder. Both players are endowed with natural skill and creativity on the ball, and their playmaking ability must be more effectively utilised over the business weeks of the 2025/26 campaign.

Hailed as an “incredible” talent by his manager, Le Fee has started a few fixtures from the bench in recent weeks as Diarra continues to grow into his starting berth, but is that something that could change ahead of the end of the season?

Following the win at St. James’ Park, journalist Mark Douglas hailed Le Bris as a “top manager”, praising his nuanced tactical play, making him “one of the best managers at adapting in-game”. Part of this success was the introduction of Le Fee, who replaced Diarra in the 85th minute and made a nuisance of himself, picking out passes and skittering about the hosts’ half.

His silky style (and, admittedly, an issue in projecting that talent on the pitch) draws comparisons with Sessegnon, who was also versatile across midfield and forward positions, scoring 18 goals and supplying 17 assists across 97 appearances for the Black Cats.

The fact that Le Bris has options to choose from on Sunderland’s return to the big time is an illustration of just how far this outfit have come over recent years.

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