Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has delivered his verdict on whether Sunderland can survive in the Premier League this season.
Sunderland have been one of the most active teams in the Premier League transfer market, with 10 new signings boosting their hopes of staying in the top flight.
As exclusively revealed by TBR Football, that will soon become 11 new arrivals as the club look set to land the signing of Omar Alderete to bolster their defence ahead of the new season.
Despite their busy transfer window, the Black Cats remain among the frontrunners for relegation, alongside their fellow newly-promoted sides Leeds United and Burnley.
Now, former Newcastle United man Alan Shearer has tipped Sunderland to go straight back down despite their impressive transfer activity.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty ImagesAlan Shearer tips Sunderland for relegation
Speaking on The Rest is Football, Alan Shearer offered his pessimistic assessment of Sunderland’s hopes of remaining in the top flight.
Asserting that all three newly-promoted sides will return to the Championship immediately, Shearer said: “Same as the other promoted teams, I think [Sunderland] will struggle and it’ll be really tough for them. So, I’ve got them being relegated again.”
This view was backed by co-host and former Premier League defender Micah Richards, who added: “Yeah, me too.
“I think relegated only because they’re bringing in so many players in such a short period of time to get them to gel and know exactly what they’re doing. I think they’ve had a right go.
“Fair play to them, but yeah, I think it might just be too much for them, so I’ve got them going down unfortunately.”
Although all three promoted teams have been busy in the transfer market as they desperately attempt to strengthen their squads, the odds are stacked against them bridging the gap.
According to Opta, the average number of points obtained by the three newly-promoted sides has dropped from just short of 45 in the Premier League’s first season to 19.67 in the 2024/25 season.
Prior to the 2023/24 season, all three promoted teams had been relegated just once in the history of the Premier League. It has now happened in back-to-back campaigns in a worrying trend.
As such, all three of Burnley, Leeds and Sunderland have a mountain to climb, as they look to defy the odds this season.