TRAI Hume says Sunderland "can't slow down" as the Black Cats look to build on their terrific first season back in the Premier League.
Sunderland's top flight opener at Ipswich Town is now just four days away, and Regis Le Bris' side will be boosted ahead of the big kick-off by the signing of Dayann Methalie.
The Black Cats were putting the finishing touches to the £25.7m move last night after the 20-year-old touched down in the North East on Sunday. He was undergoing his medical yesterday after Sunderland came to an agreement with Toulouse over the weekend.
It's understood Sunderland will pay a guaranteed £24m for the left-back, with a further £1.7m in potential add-ons.
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Florent Ghisolfi has been patient in the pursuit of a top target this summer, with Black Cats officials always confident they'd strike a deal with the French top flight side, even if they had to play the waiting game.
Ghisolfi will now turn his attention to adding a wide attacker to the ranks, with Geny Catamo still a leading target.
Sunderland wrapped up their preparations for the Premier League season with a 2-1 win over Rennes on Sunday, with Hume continuing his fine form with another goal.
The Northern Ireland international will start at Portman Road on Saturday and will again play a prominent role for Le Bris' side this season.
And although Sunderland have been relatively quiet in the transfer window - the aim was always quality over quantity - Hume points out that the core of the squad remains extremely strong.
“We don't know who's coming in the door and who's coming out," he said.
"We just don't know anything about that. But I'm sure the staff up stairs are obviously working. They're trying to get players in, because we do have a lot of games, but it's on us as players to stay fit and stay ready and just be ready to play all the games that we have to play.
“I think last season, we probably weren't expected to do as well as we did. And within the group, we knew we could.
"Probably at the start and halfway through the season, we knew we could - we knew we're a good group and we're a good team, and we can achieve something this season.
"And now that we've done that, we just can't slow down. We've got to keep on being professional, keep on working hard at the training ground and keep on building.”
Experienced right-back Thomas Meunier joined Sunderland earlier this summer and will provide competition and cover for Hume this season, though the pair played together at Lens, with the Belgian newcomer impressing at right-back and Hume catching the eye in a more advanced role, as he's done throughout pre-season.
Meunier missed the weekend game with a minor injury but Hume says he's already learnt a lot from the former PSG defender.
"In the game against Lens, whenever he was playing behind me, he was talking to you throughout the whole game," said Hume.
"He brings an abundance of experience playing at the top, top level.
“It's the same with Nordi [Mukiele] as well. He's obviously played at the top level as well, so playing with players like that on that side of the pitch, obviously, it gives you confidence, and it gives you stability whenever you want to go out there and play.
"We're competing for that right-back spot, or whatever you want to say on that right-hand side of the pitch, and that's what you need.
"Whenever you're a good team, you're going to be competing for positions, and they're obviously top players. It's something that I'm looking forward to going into the season.”
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