Diallo features: 3 August transfers Sunderland AFC will want to emulate before Deadline Day | OneFootball

Sunderland will be hoping they can emulate these August signings before Deadline Day.

With less than two weeks to go until the transfer window closes, there is still plenty of time for Sunderland to pull off significant business in August.

The Black Cats have already signed four players, with Alan Browne, Simon Moore, Ian Poveda and Blondy Nna Noukeu all through the door at the Stadium of Light - with only two of those expected to be first-team challengers.

Sunderland's number one transfer target this summer has been SM Caen forward Alexandre Mendy, but the club has faced a series of obstacles in trying to bring him in, and thus the deal has stalled.

Over the years, the Wearsiders have pulled off some exceptional deals in the month of August, and the club will be hoping they can strike gold in emulating the deals we have deemed to be some of Sunderland's best.

Amad Diallo

In recent times, there have not been many better Sunderland players than Amad Diallo. Such was his success at the Stadium of Light, that the Ivorian is set to feature in Manchester United's first-team more regularly in the 2024-25 season.

Sunderland signed Diallo on a season-long loan from United in August 2022. The winger carried the hefty price tag of £37.2 million on his shoulders, having arrived at Old Trafford from Atalanta in 2021.

Diallo matured like a fine wine during his spell at the Stadium of Light and led them to a fifth-placed finish during their first season back in the Championship, as the winger lit up the division with his tantalising trickery and deft touch.

His goal from a free-kick against Luton Town in the play-off semi-final first leg emphasised what Diallo was capable of - he was a match-winner in every sense of the word.

Unfortunately, the winger went back to Old Trafford and somewhat outgrew the Black Cats, but it seems that the love was mutual between Diallo and Sunderland.

The following season, Diallo was heavily linked with a return to the North East and posted suggestive posts on his social media account, suggesting he was keen on the move.

Although he never returned, Diallo may go down as the greatest loan signing in the club's history and fans will be hoping he can deliver his potential at United - Sunderland could certainly do with a similar signing this month.

Darren Bent

In August 2019, Sunderland completed the £10 million signing of Darren Bent from Tottenham Hotspur, in what was a club-record deal.

Bent was an instant hit in the North East and bagged 24 goals in 28 appearances during his first season at the club. Under Steve Bruce, the club achieved a 13th place finish in the division, largely thanks to Bent's goals.

The Englishman was a natural-born goalscorer and players of his calibre are hard to come by. Bent famously struck the beach ball goal against Liverpool, which earned them a 2-1 victory over the Merseyside club.

Unfortunately for Sunderland, money talks, and Bent had his head turned during his second season at the club. In January 2011, the striker signed for Aston Villa for £24 million, although he was never able to emulate his form at Sunderland.

Bent could have been a cult hero on Wearside, but by moving to the Midlands, it left a bitter taste in Black Cats fans' mouths - what Sunderland fans would do for a prolific goalscorer up-front though come the August 30 deadline.

Yann M'Vila

Another of Sunderland's greatest August signings is Yann M'Vila, who signed on a season-long loan for Sunderland from Rubin Kazan in 2015.

M'Vila already had pedigree, having played for Italian giants Inter Milan. In his only season at the club, the combative midfielder made 37 appearances, scoring once and assisting four times.

Simply put, M'Vila was a class act. During his spell in the North East, the player put in some stellar performances and proved why he had 22 caps for France. The midfielder excelled during Sunderland's great escape under Sam Allardyce and the club would have loved to have him back.

In January, rumours sparked that the Frenchman might be in line for a return to the North East, but he eventually joined Championship rivals West Brom instead, with the Black Cats' fleeting interest not amounting to anything.

Although he will probably never wear the red and white of Sunderland again, fans will always remember the impressive performances he put in for the club, and if any new recruit plays half as well as M'Vila did in his time on Wearside, then they'll likely be loved on the terraces.