Transfer Rumours Summer Transfer window

WOW

 

LATE

 

Hmmm

 

Haha got me this time I’m late

 

Seems like a big statement this.

 

Honestly did not see this coming at all. Seems unnecessary on one hand but that’s also what makes it so exciting and such a statement.

 

So will go above speakman? Well a new DOF wasn’t on my bingo card for June.

Hopefully he’s the real deal because that’s a huge position and speakman has overall done some outstanding work.

Hopefully not another de fanti

Does feel like things are getting put in place for us to really look to achieve some amazing things in the future. Will take time still but it’s a really exciting time for me

 

Hope there’s clarity in the roles and responsibilities. The Ornstein article reads like getting the replacement in the door ahead of time.

 

We are massive

 

It’s bloody typical of Sunderland tho in a summer transfer window where we finally don’t have to wait for a new manager before we sign anyone, we decide to spend the first part of it finding a new director of football before we sign anyone instead

 

Like Michael Edward’s and Richard Hughes at Liverpool?

 

On the face of it, absolutely the worst possible time to change the decision-making structure at the club.

 

I think this might be part of the reason it’s been quieter than usual lately

 

yeh this is my thinking. I absolutely love it. I’m just confused by the timing. At least it’s very early in the window. And frankly he wasn’t available until yesterday and wouldn’t have been coming at all had we not been promoted.

Got to assume it was always the plan to do this once we got promoted

 

I know there’s been chat about potential investment after promotion, wonder if that’s maybe on the way? All likelihood just a KLD appointment.

How random haha, can see our business picking up over the next couple of weeks or so now

 

Anyone got a copy of the Athletic article?

 

Very interesting this. Hope it all works out and this isn't a case of too many cooks. Hope Speakman is still heavily involved.

 

Hope so. It would be absolutely dysfunctional to push speakman aside at the very moment where the direction he gave the club was totally and utterly vindicated.

 

Sunderland close to appointing Florent Ghisolfi as director of football
David Ornstein

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Sunderland are close to appointing Florent Ghisolfi as the club’s director of football.

Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman will remain at newly-promoted Sunderland and will work alongside Ghisolfi, who was Roma’s sporting director for 2024-25.

Ghisolfi had interest from other clubs including Newcastle United, who are assessing candidates to succeed outgoing sporting director Paul Mitchell, with interest also from Juventus, Fiorentina and Saudi Arabia.

A former midfielder, Ghisolfi led Roma to a top-five finish in Serie A for the first time in five seasons last term, missing out on Champions League qualification to Juventus by one point.

The 40-year-old, who decided to leave Roma this summer, had his first sporting director role at Lens, who won promotion back to Ligue 1 during his time at the club before later qualifying for the Champions League.

Ghisolfi worked at Nice with INEOS between 2022 and 2024, where head coach Francesco Farioli had wished to retain his services before Roma saw off interest from Monaco to secure his signature last summer.

Sunderland are back in the Premier League for the first time since 2017, having defeated Sheffield United in last month’s Championship play-off final.

(Silvia Lore/Getty Images)

 

Sunderland are close to appointing Florent Ghisolfi as the club’s director of football.

Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman will remain at newly-promoted Sunderland and will work alongside Ghisolfi, who was Roma’s sporting director for 2024-25.

Ghisolfi had interest from other clubs including Newcastle United, who are assessing candidates to succeed outgoing sporting director Paul Mitchell, with interest also from Juventus, Fiorentina and Saudi Arabia.

A former midfielder, Ghisolfi led Roma to a top-five finish in Serie A for the first time in five seasons last term, missing out on Champions League qualification to Juventus by one point.


The 40-year-old, who decided to leave Roma this summer, had his first sporting director role at Lens, who won promotion back to Ligue 1 during his time at the club before later qualifying for the Champions League.

Ghisolfi worked at Nice with INEOS between 2022 and 2024, where head coach Francesco Farioli had wished to retain his services before Roma saw off interest from Monaco to secure his signature last summer.

Sunderland are back in the Premier League for the first time since 2017, having defeated Sheffield United in last month’s Championship play-off final.