Sunderland’s achievements last season during their first season back in the Premier League were nothing short of remarkable and have handed a generation of supporters their first taste of European football.
However, given their qualification for the Europa League, the fanbase will no doubt be expecting similar levels from the Black Cats in the years ahead.
Registering such a finish this term with the added fixture congestion and lack of squad depth will no doubt be a tall order for the players and Regis Le Bris.
There’s no denying his side would stand a much higher chance of repeating such a feat in 2026/27 had they made the loan deal for one player into a permanent one.
Why Sunderland are craving a player of Amad’s quality
In football, there’s a saying: never fall in love with a loan player, but there was no way Sunderland supporters were able to live by such a statement after the performances of Amad Diallo.
The Ivorian spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan at the Stadium of Light from Manchester United and produced countless moments of magic in front of the Black Cats faithful.
The winger managed to register an incredible 17 combined goals and assists in his 39 league outings for the club, subsequently helping the side reach the play-off semi-finals.
His ability to find the back of the net was crucial to their promotion clash that term, as he was often able to pull out a moment of magic in those tight and nervy encounters.
The 24-year-old’s strike in the play-off semi-final against Luton Town was arguably his most memorable effort as it handed the supporters the belief their Premier League exile was ending.
However, their failure to secure promotion ended their hopes of penning a permanent deal for Amad, who has since become a first team regular at Old Trafford.
Even four years on from his temporary spell in the North East, the supporters still talk about his efforts and remain hopeful of a return to the club in the near future.
Why Le Bris has his own Amad on the bench at Sunderland
Whilst a permanent deal for Amad seems unlikely at present, Sunderland are in desperate need of another attacking option to emulate his success in the final third.
Le Bris’ men have only netted six times in their first five league games this term, with three of which coming in the defeat to Manchester City before the international break.
However, it could all be so different for the Black Cats had they taken advantage of their chances, with the club missing the most big chances of any side in the division this term.
Such an issue can easily be solved by Le Bris with the current crop of players, but it would mean bringing winger Chemsdine Talbi back into the starting eleven.
The Moroccan international was a key member of the manager’s plans last term after his move from Club Brugge, subsequently featuring in 28 top-flight matches.
However, the 21-year-old has seen a huge decline in minutes so far this campaign, with the attacker only making one substitute appearance – totalling just 31 minutes of action.
The lack of minutes may be seen as a confusing decision for the fanbase, especially considering the attacker ended last season with the most goals of any attacker in the senior ranks.
|
Sunderland top PL scorers (2025/26) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Player |
PL goals |
|
1 |
Brian Brobbey |
7 |
|
2 |
Wilson Isidor |
6 |
|
3 |
Enzo Le Fée |
5 |
|
4 |
Chemsdine Talbi |
4 |
|
5 |
Nordi Mukiele |
3 |
|
6= |
Eliezer Mayenda |
2 |
|
6= |
Daniel Ballard |
2 |
|
6= |
Trai Hume |
2 |
|
6= |
Habib Diarra |
2 |
He may feature on the opposite flank to Amad, but Talbi does possess a similar trait to the Ivorian of frequently cutting inside off the wing onto his favoured foot.
Such a quality allowed him to register four goals last term, with his ability to find the back of the net something his Le Bris’ side are desperately lacking at present.
He also emulated the current United star in being able to glide past the opposition with ease, as demonstrated by his impressive 47% dribble success rate in 2025/26.
Like his goalscoring tally, the aforementioned figure was the highest of any Black Cats winger last term, which has made the decision to exclude him in recent weeks all the more surprising.
Talbi has now failed to appear in a single league game since the opening day defeat to Ipswich Town, and Le Bris desperately needs to end such a run after the international break.
The Moroccan has demonstrated he has the tools needed to provide the goods within attacking areas and can be the man to emulate Amad and provide the threat needed in front of goal.
