Having established a bigger circle of influence after signing for two more years, Sunderland’s head coach will implement a made-in-Britain policy to build the squad he wants

It promises to be a busy summer for Gus Poyet. There’s a holiday to be taken with his wife Madelon, a spot of World Cup punditry for ITV in Rio de Janeiro and an operation to repair a torn cruciate ligament in Darlington.

Along the way Sunderland’s manager must also perform major surgery on a team whose miraculous escape from relegation concealed manifold flaws. In many ways it is a daunting task but there are not too many clubs capable of regularly attracting crowds of 40,000 plus while in the midst of a relegation struggle.

It may be an awfully long time since Sunderland won the last of their six top-flight titles or were variously known as “the team of all the talents” and “the Bank of England club”, but Poyet knows the potential at the 49,000-capacity Stadium of Light is immense.

This amalgam of infrastructure and history explains why he reached an “agreement in principle” to remain on Wearside with Ellis Short, Sunderland’s American billionaire owner three weeks ago. And why, after celebrating survival during a short break in the Middle East, he disappointed Southampton by agreeing a new, improved two-year contract on Wednesday.

If the south coast had a certain allure – the Uruguayan has made it clear he does not enjoy the north-east weather – staying put at Sunderland is, quite simply, a better career move for a 46-year-old who frequently struggled to disguise his ambition while managing Brighton.

Some weeks ago, when Sunderland seemed doomed to the Championship and an emotional Poyet spoke of something being “wrong” at the club, it appeared an unlikely outcome. Despite twice beating Newcastle United in the league and reaching the Capital One Cup final, there was a feeling that, ultimately, the gargantuan challenge of reviving a team which had collected only one point by the time he succeeded Paolo Di Canio in October had proved too much. The suspicion was that he was developing an exit strategy.

The former Chelsea midfielder experienced a serious “wobble” and, having raised boardroom concerns, looked poised to depart but talks with Short convinced him not to give up and a string of unforeseen wins – featuring victories at Chelsea and Manchester United – followed.

After a brief, fairly disastrous, dalliance with differing formations, including a back three, Poyet had returned to the tried and tested 4‑1‑4‑1 system – which can also be interpreted as a version of 4‑3‑3 – he has long regarded as the cornerstone of his philosophy.

It is this defined vision – and determination to play patient, controlled, possession-based football – that excites many fans. For too many seasons Sunderland have lacked a clear, defined identity. Now, after endless years of tactical muddle, they finally promise to develop one.

Early evidence of this desire to create “Brand Sunderland” came when, shortly after first arriving, Poyet impressed staff and scouts with a Powerpoint presentation pinpointing precisely the type of players he needed to recruit to put his blueprint into practice. The depth of detail was extraordinary and something of a departure from the more broad-brush approach adopted by some of his predecessors.

Meanwhile there were political battles to be contested. If Di Canio’s man-management left an awful lot to be desired his cause was not helped by Roberto De Fanti, the former director of football, signing 14 players, 13 from overseas, last summer. Di Canio has said none were his choices. By November Poyet made it apparent, albeit subtly, he would leave were the same thing to happen to him. In January De Fanti was dismissed.

Unwilling to abandon the director of football model Short and Margaret Byrne, the chief executive, appointed Lee Congerton, a former Chelsea scout and Hamburg technical director.

He and Poyet are believed to get on well but it was understandable that, bargaining from a position of strength and certainly not afraid to indulge in a little brinkmanship, the Uruguayan used interest from West Ham and Southampton to increase his sphere of autonomy on Wearside.

If it seems entirely sensible that the manager – or head coach as he is formally known – should take a keen interest in the style of play at the academy, Short’s fingers had been burnt by too many previously expensive transfers for the owner to offer another manager control over comings and goings in the market.

Sharing responsibility with Congerton looks a more sane way forward and the director is already hard at work. Despite his extensive knowledge of the European market – not to mention Sunderland’s growing commercial ties in Africa – De Fanti’s successor will be concentrating on a made-in-Britain policy this summer.

“We want more British players but they cost a lot more money so we need to be smart in the market and do our homework thoroughly,” says Congerton. “When you bring in a foreign player you’ve got to appreciate the difficulties off the field and the patience needed. It helps, if like Fabio Borini foreign players have played in this league. Fabio has been established in this country since he was 16 – and I think that’s a market you’ve got to look at. “

The stylistic fit has also to be right. “Gus, in my opinion, plays football the right way,” says Congerton. “We want players who can play that way.” While many fans would love Borini, who spent last season on loan from Liverpool, to be signed permanently – and the forward is available for around £10m – Congerton is concentrating on the free-agents market.

Before signing his new deal Poyet needed to be satisfied with the budget Short is prepared to make available but like the vast majority of clubs, Sunderland will almost certainly wait to start buying until July at the earliest.

Free transfers – who do not join the payroll until July 1 – are a different matter and, already, Congerton has completed the signing of Billy Jones, the West Brom right-back who replaces the Stoke-bound Phil Bardsley. Attack-minded and comfortable on the ball, the Crewe academy graduate may not be the world’s greatest defender, but he clearly fits the Poyet vision.

So too, does Jordi Gómez, Wigan’s player of the season. The Spanish midfielder was in advanced talks on Thursday regarding a potential relocation north-east of the Pennines.

While it will be intriguing to see whether or not Lee Cattermole – not a natural Poyet-type player but a key to last season’s survival – remains an integral part of the side, reinforcements are required all over the pitch.

Vacancies for a centre half, left-back, and a central midfielder – two if Jack Colback leaves – second-choice goalkeeper and striker require filling ahead of a pre-season in which the manager will combine rehabilitation from his knee surgery with properly implementing his tactical ideas and disciplinary code.

The sort of revolution Di Canio often promised but ultimately failed to deliver beckons. Choreographed by Poyet, it is likely to be of the velvet variety.