Sunderland Premier League season preview 2015/16

All the transfer news, statistics, pundit views and odds ahead of Sunderland's 2015/16 season.

Position last season: 16th

Sky Bet title odds: 5000/1

Ins: Sebastian Coates (Liverpool), Younes Kaboul (Tottenham), Jeremain Lens (Dynamo Kiev), Adam Matthews (Celtic)

Outs: El-Hadji Ba (Charlton), Santiago Vergini (Getafe, loan), Connor Wickham (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Preston, loan).

Overview

There were emotional scenes towards the end of last season as Sunderland came dangerously close to relegation only to come up with a five-game unbeaten run when it was needed to survive. Dick Advocaat became an instant hero even before the veteran Dutch coach belatedly agreed to stay on.

Having provided the immediate impact, Advocaat must now follow it up and that means the underlying issues that saw Sunderland down near the foot of the table to begin with need to be addressed.

The arrival of Younes Kaboul should help freshen up the defence if he can stay fit, while further forwards, the addition of the exciting Jeremain Lens will encourage Sunderland supporters that last season’s second lowest goalscorers can do rather better this time around.

Ray Parlour's view: "I think you would expect Sunderland to be battling all the way this season. Advocaat’s done a brilliant job and the board will back him now as well. I think they will be OK this year, I think they’ll be above the drop zone and that would be a success.There are a lot of players being linked to Sunderland, too. Leroy Fer is apparently a possibility and he is a good midfielder." 

Opta stats

- Sunderland were shown 94 yellow cards in 2014/15, a record in a single Premier League season.

- In 2014/15, Lee Cattermole equalled a Premier League record by collecting 14 yellow cards in a single season.

- Sunderland’s total of nine 0-0 draws in 2014/15 was the joint-most by a team in a 38-game season.