Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman reckons Sunderland are in a “strong position” as they approach the final stretch of the Championship season. It comes after a busy transfer window saw the Black Cats incredibly active.

The January window closed just an hour after the final whistle blew at Middlesbrough – and the Black Cats have since drawn 2-2 with Watford. Enzo Le Fee and Jayden Danns were brought in on loan and Wilson Isidor's move was made permanent.

But Speakman believes retaining some of the club's best young talent was also critical. Chris Rigg, Jobe Bellingham, Dan Neil and Tommy Watson have all had interest from admiring Premier League clubs and Sunderland turned down a £13million bid for the latter from Brighton on deadline day.

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Le Fée has impressed and reflecting on the window, Speakman told safc.com he was pleased with the club’s ability to retain key talent while also securing Isidor on a permanent deal following his strong first half of the campaign.

“We feel we are in a really strong position,” said Speakman, who could see Sunderland receive a double boost in the coming days. “We wanted to go into February feeling like we have the group where we needed them to be for the final games. Players returning from injury have put us in a strong position and obviously we have added the likes of Enzo which has given us incredible quality and I think people are seeing that in the team. Ultimately we are really pleased.”

Danns has also joined, on loan from Liverpool, and Speakman said: “We were looking to add another forward to the group and we looked long and hard for the right profile from a football perspective. We also wanted the right character and we felt with Jayden we’ve got a bit of both of those.

“When you come to the end of the window and that player becomes available we did everything to try and get him.

“Unfortunately with good due diligence and process we found an underlying issue with him which means he will be out for a little bit of time which is incredibly frustrating for us and for him.”

On Isidor’s signing, Speakman explained: “With Wilson I think from a football perspective it was a relatively easy decision with his impact on the team and the impact on the league. Also with Wilson’s thoughts, the ambiguity of it [loan] and removing that is definitely a benefit. It gives him the best platform to perform over the rest of the season.

“Ultimately for us it's another process out of the way. There’s always going to be complications in converting a loan to a permanent position and we managed to get through all those steps and now there is certainty for the club and for the supporters at the back end of the season.”

Retaining the likes of Bellingham and Rigg was vital too. The duo are destined for great things but Speakman said the club was determined to hold on to them and that offers and interest were rejected for the youngsters in the squad.

He added: “Often not enough is made of being able to retain talent. In January there’s lots of competitors and teams who lose talent in the window. Our ownership has been really firm on the fact we are trying to retain and build. That often means you are making difficult decisions in turning offers and opportunities down.

“We’ve got such a committed playing group it doesn’t become a difficulty for us. Everyone here is focused on the remaining games and getting us to the top of the table.”

Two players who did leave were Adil Aouchiche [loan to Portsmouth] and Aaron Connolly [permanent move to Millwall] and Speakman said their departures will help the squad 'harmony' as well as give the duo a chance to shine elsewhere. He said: “To keep a great harmony in the group our objectives and aims need to be the same as the players. They wanted to play more. It was right for where they are in their career.

“Adil and Aaron were in the squad and around the squad and it’s a good move for both of them to move to different clubs at a good level and go on to show their talent.”