KYRIL LOUIS-DREYFUS is ready to make money available for signings in next month’s transfer window, but the Sunderland owner hopes the days of funding radical restructures twice a season are over.

The Black Cats’ majority shareholder is approaching the second anniversary of his Wearside reign, and has overseen a host of major changes, both on and off the pitch, since replacing former owner Stewart Donald.

His first summer transfer window witnessed a major overhaul of the squad under Lee Johnson, while there were also a host of incomings and outgoings last summer in the wake of Sunderland’s promotion from League One.

Tony Mowbray is keen to bring in new faces next month, and Louis-Dreyfus expects to be active in the transfer market as he works alongside sporting director, Kristjaan Speakman, to improve the squad. However, after two years of seemingly constant upheaval, the Swiss 25-year-old is also keen to see some stability as Sunderland attempt to successfully reestablish themselves in the Championship.

“When I came in, we had a very peculiar situation where I think we had 12 players left (under contract) at the end of my first season,” said Louis-Dreyfus, who was speaking after helping to launch ‘The Sunderland Story’, a celebration of the club’s history in theatrical form that will be staged at the Sunderland Empire next May. “It was therefore about bringing in a big number of players that summer.

“Then, we got promoted, and so you have to go through a similar process because you’re stepping up a league. My big hope is that, unless we get promoted to the Premier League in the next few months, we’ll be able to recruit less and focus on more specific profiles of exactly what we need, rather than needing to go out and find 12 players.

“We’ve got a really good core of players now, in my opinion, and it’s about adding every window, whether it’s this January or next summer, trying to identify the areas where we make those specific improvements that we need.”

One of Louis-Dreyfus’ key moves in the last few months was the installation of Mowbray as head coach following the departure of Alex Neil, who left Wearside to take over at Stoke City.

Mowbray has whole-heartedly bought into Sunderland’s new recruitment model that prioritises the signing of young, relatively inexperienced players, often on loan or from abroad, with Louis-Dreyfus regarding the Teessider as a perfect fit for the way he wants his club to develop.

“What I liked is that Tony came in with an open mentality,” he said. “We knew we had injuries, but we didn’t give up. We tried to be creative to pick up results in a lot of the games, and that was really pleasing. 

“To come into a club and a new group without a pre-season is not easy, and it wasn’t an easy situation, but so far, it’s gone really well, and we’re really pleased with it.”