Sunderland chief now outlines ‘dream’ signing ahead of Premier League return, ‘I hope’…

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Sunderland fans were left overjoyed on Saturday after returning to the Premier League, and now, a ‘dream’ signing has been outlined.

Brighton-bound Tommy Watson declared himself a Sunderland ‘legend’ after scoring the winner at Wembley against Sheffield United.

The Black Cats came from behind to prevail in the Championship play-off final, as thousands of fans were sent into pandemonium at Wembley.

It was the perfect end to Regis Le Bris’ first season in charge, but now, the real test begins for the North East giants as a return to the top flight beckons.

A flawless summer transfer window will need to be carried out for Sunderland to survive, and one club chief has outlined his ‘dream’ signing.

• READ MORE: Jobe Bellingham travels to Germany for transfer talks after Championship play-off final win, but it’s not Borussia Dortmund

Juan Sartori shares his ‘dream’ Sunderland signing

Following their dramatic turnaround at Wembley, promotion to the Premier League meant Enzo Le Fee’s move to Sunderland was made permanent.

The 25-year-old has shown his class since joining from Roma, and the Frenchman will now continue the legacy he’s starting to build at the Stadium of Light.

Le Fee is one of several players Le Bris will sign permanently this summer, with Sunderland co-owner Juan Sartori outlining his ‘dream’ of one day capturing a Uruguayan player.

When asked about the chances of that happening, the Uruguayan told El Observador: “No, that’s always a dream, but you also have to separate heartfelt decisions from patriotic ones, so one would like to make the right decision at the right time.

“I’m sure that one day we’ll manage to bring a Uruguayan to Sunderland, and that it will be under the best conditions, but that’s what we’ll see now. The goal isn’t to bring a Uruguayan; it’s a dream that I hope can come true one day.”

• READ MORE: Luke O’Nien pays tribute to Tommy Watson after Sunderland moment, he’s a ‘perfect example’

Sunderland have only had one Uruguayan player

Should Sartori’s wish of signing a Uruguayan get granted one day, whoever it is will only become the second player of that nationality to represent Sunderland.

The first was centre-back Sebastien Coates, who joined the Black Cats in the summer of 2014 from Liverpool and only made 32 appearances for the club before leaving in 2016.

Coates, now 34, then spent almost a decade at Sporting Lisbon, amassing a staggering 369 appearances and 34 goals for the club before his departure to Club Nacional in 2024.

Remarkably, Sunderland also had arguably the greatest ever Uruguayan on their books before Coates, nearly signing Luis Suarez from Ajax in 2010.

Sunderland, unfortunately, snubbed that opportunity, and Liverpool swooped in for the world-class striker in January 2011. The rest, as they say, is history.