How does Coventry's transfer approach compare with Sunderland in 2025?

[BBC] Sunderland's promotion to the Premier League at the end of the 2024-25 campaign prompted a massive summer of recruitment. In preparation for their first campaign in the top flight for eight years, the Black Cats signed 15 players - including Marc Guiu, who had to return to Chelsea within a few weeks of joining - and spent a record £160m. That is almost double the amount of bodies through the doors at Coventry this summer. "Sunderland's successful recruitment drive in the summer of 2025 has been well documented," said BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes. "The club had two plans in place for recruitment that summer - one for the Championship and one for the Premier League, and it was the latter which rolled into action. "With a guarantee of significant income from the Premier League TV deals, and having spent frugally in the years they were in League One and the Championship, Sunderland had plenty of headroom to invest against the projected incomes due from promotion. "What Sunderland did demonstrate was the importance of having a plan/project clearly underpinned by sustainability." Coventry's books are also healthy, but chairman Doug King said earlier this year that should the Sky Blues be promoted to the Premier League, they would not be following in the footsteps of Sunderland. In an interview with BBC CWR, King labelled their overhaul "a little bit radical", adding "their identity of who got them there has been somewhat lost". "Is that the right thing to do?" King questioned. "I don't know. I guess we'll do it the Cov way." But after already spending more than £100m on signings this summer, it would suggest King agrees that a big outlay is necessary to compete in the Premier League, but has spent big on a smaller number of players. That is why the Sky Blues have brought in seven players to date - including Frank Onyeka who joined following the completion of his loan - rather than undergoing a complete overhaul. They have, however, like Sunderland, looked at the European leagues to recruit this summer, with Caleb Yirenkyi signing from Nordsjaelland, Sidiki Cherif from Fenerbahce and Aurele Amenda arriving from Eintracht Frankfurt. "Sunderland gambled on their due diligence to identify players they believed would only increase in value," added Barnes. Yirenkyi, Amenda and Cherif have no Premier League experience, but they do arrive with plenty of international and European competition experience. The trio also have the potential to increase in value, with Yirenkyi attracting significant interest from other English and European clubs before the 20-year-old Ghana international put pen to paper for Coventry. Avoiding relegation is this season's aim for Coventry, but signing sellable assets should they drop back down to the Championship is good business.