Sunderland have well and truly hit the jackpot on Regis Le Bris. Appointed ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, the French coach guided the Black Cats straight up to the Premier League and is now targeting a top-half finish.
11th in the standings with seven matches left to play, Sunderland are only six points behind fifth-place Liverpool and might just have the fuel to stage a dramatic finish to the season after last weekend’s incredible victory over Newcastle United at St. James’ Park.
The Tyne-Wear Derby has not been a happy one for Newcastle in recent memory, and the fact that the Black Cats leapt over their bitter rivals with the win only adds insult to injury.
Sunderland still need to improve in the final third, though, with the wing play leaving something to be desired. While Le Bris will be confident in using the summer transfer window to strengthen, it’s a shame Jack Clarke still isn’t at the club.
Why Sunderland sold Jack Clarke
Clarke now plays for Ipswich Town in the Championship, and he has been one of their most important outlets during a promotion push, scoring 14 goals across 30 matches this season.
That kind of prolific edge could have gone a long way for Sunderland this season, perhaps proving the difference in the dreamy battle for a ticket into Europe.
The 25-year-old developed into a crucial player for the Black Cats, but he was indeed sold for £15m in 2024. Given Sunderland’s subsequent ascension, it’s unlikely that supporters will still be losing that much sleep over it all, but Clarke is still going from strength to strength and he could definitely play a part in this high-flying team.
Sunderland do need to make improvements in the final third this summer. Wilson Isidor, for example, has failed to adapt to the Premier League, and has been firmly displaced by the powerful Brian Brobbey.
Le Bris will plan on ringing a few changes this summer, and one player looks like he might be on the move this summer who was actually ahead of Clarke in the pecking order, and maybe contributed toward the Tractor Boys’ sale.
Sunderland star who was ahead of Clarke must be sold
Sunderland have worked so hard to get to the Premier League and settle in an impressive mid-table position. Now they must continue to build, and that might mean parting with peripheral players such as Romaine Mundle.
A “frightening” winger, as described by journalist Josh Bunting, Mundle is undoubtedly pacy and dangerous when on his A-game, but he’s failed to provide a direct or creative threat for Le Bris’s side this season, yet to create a big chance while averaging 0.1 shots on target per game.
Sunderland signed the young Mundle from Standard Liege in Belgium in February 2024. It was a £2m fee, and he has played his part, but the outfit may have outgrown their young Clarke heir.
In truth, the London-born wide forward has the potential to play a part in this Sunderland squad, but there are certainly upgrades out there, and given that he has only started twice in the Premier League this season, he may well be finished at the Stadium of Light, with strengthening the attacking flanks bound to be high on the club’s list of summer objectives.
Back in 2024, former Sunderland star Marco Gabbiadini backed Mundle to outstrip Clarke after the latter’s move to Portman Road, saying, “In many respects, his wing play is better than Clarke’s. Whether he’s going to be as good a goalscorer, I don’t know. But I think his wing play is better because he can go both ways, and he just has that little bit more pace to go on the outside.”
Sunderland do not need to fear a late-stage tumble into a relegation dogfight, and will now plan ahead. While Mundle’s versatility across the field underscores his value, it’s not that important when he’s not producing on the field and largely wasting away on the sidelines, untrusted by Le Bris.
|
Romaine Mundle – Career Stats by Position |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Apps |
Goals + Assists |
|
Left winger |
56 |
9 + 6 |
|
Right winger |
36 |
6 + 5 |
|
Left wing-back |
10 |
2 + 3 |
|
Attacking midfield |
5 |
0 + 2 |
|
Right wing-back |
4 |
1 + 0 |
|
Centre-forward |
3 |
0 + 0 |
|
Right-back |
1 |
1 + 0 |
Sunderland are in a strong position, and the fact that Mundle might be shipped on places emphasis on the staggering growth over the last couple of years.
A winter exit for the 22-year-old was weighed up, but Sunderland ultimately decided to keep him for the remainder of the campaign. His fortunes haven’t changed, though, so an exit feels inevitable.
He may well be finished at Sunderland, but if they do let Mundle go, they will need to ensure they bring in an upgrade.
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