Le Bris signing is fast becoming Sunderland’s new Jack Rodwell

Sunderland need just one point from their remaining four matches in the Premier League to guarantee their place in the division for another season.

They are 12 points clear of the drop with four matches left to play and are on the verge of achieving survival in their first year back in the top-flight under Regis Le Bris.

The Black Cats cannot afford to rest on their laurels and pat themselves on the back, though, because they must gear themselves up to go again in the 2026/27 campaign.

Sunderland have conceded nine goals in their last two games, against Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, and have lost four of their last six matches in all competitions.

The club should look to bolster the squad once again in the summer to improve the team and ensure that they do not suffer from second season syndrome.

How Sunderland can avoid second season syndrome in the Premier League

To avoid dropping off and being relegated in their second season in the Premier League, Sunderland need to be ruthless with the players in their squad who do not look up to the task of playing at this level.

Eliezer Mayenda and Romaine Mundle, for example, both came up from the Championship with the club and have combined for two goals and no assists all season in the top-flight.

It may be time for the pair of them to be moved on in the summer, whether that is on loan or on a permanent basis, because they do not look ready to produce quality on a regular basis in the Premier League.

No Sunderland forward has produced more than six goals or provided more than five assists in the division after 34 matches, which suggests that the club should look to add more quality in those areas to avoid second season syndrome.

Adding players who can deliver more goals and assists could ensure that the Black Cats do not end up struggling without regular contributors in the final third next term.

Sunderland must sell their new Jack Rodwell

In order to raise funds for new players to come through the door at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland could cash in on a flop who is quickly becoming the new Jack Rodwell on Wearside.

In 2014, the Black Cats spent £10m on the signing of Rodwell from Manchester City, as a proven Premier League performer, and he flopped badly, playing just 76 times in four years before leaving on a free transfer.

Now, Simon Adingra is in danger of becoming the new version of the English midfielder, less than a year after his £21m move from Brighton last summer.

The Ivorian forward looked like a sensible signing on paper as a proven Premier League forward, having scored eight goals in two league seasons with Brighton, but he flopped in the first half of the season with Sunderland.

Adingra failed to provide much in the way of quality, with one goal contribution in 14 league outings, and was sent out on loan to Monaco, who have a £17m option to sign him permanently, during the January transfer window.

The 24-year-old attacker scored three goals in his first four matches in Ligue 1 for Monaco, but has failed to score in any of his last seven outings, providing one assist in that time.

This means that Adingra has scored four goals and produced one assist in 25 appearances in the Premier League and Ligue 1 combined this season, which is far from an impressive return for a £21m-rated, and now £17m-rated, winger.

Like Rodwell, the forward arrived at the Stadium of Light as a player who was expected to hit the ground running as a known quantity, but “just hasn’t worked” out, as journalist Josh Bunting put it.If Monaco do not act on their option to sign him on a permanent basis, Sunderland must still sell Adingra in the summer transfer window so that they can avoid him following Rodwell down the same path and eventually leaving for nothing in the future.