Sunderland have spent more than three times more on agents' fees than they have on new signings since the closure of the January 2017 transfer window.
Figures released by the FA show that Sunderland splashed out £4.37million on intermediary and agents' fees, the second-highest total in the Championship behind Aston Villa's £5.51m.
Yet despite the outlay for agents, Sunderland have spent just £1.25m on players in the last two transfer windows - summer 2017 and January 2018.
That figure was reached with the signings of James Vaughan and Jason Steele for £500,000 each and Aiden McGeady for £250,000.