Sunderland are the only team with a chance of Premier League survival due to their lavish transfer spending, Mark Clattenburg has claimed.

Speaking on the Mail’s Whistleblowers podcast, the former referee blamed newly-promoted teams’ struggles to stay up on restrictive FFP (Financial Fair Play) rules that hamstring their ability to build competitive squads.

Across the last two Premier League seasons (2023-25), all six promoted sides have immediately gone straight back down to the Championship.

Sunderland have been fortunate with their FFP position, as Jobe Bellingham’s £27.8m sale has enabled far greater spending than other relegation-threatened clubs.

Clattenburg said: ‘Because of Financial Fair Play, you can’t have a rich owner come in and spend loads of money. That’s the issue.

Sunderland are the only team with a chance of Premier League survival due to their lavish transfer spending, Mark Clattenburg has claimed

Of Leeds , Burnley and Sunderland, Clattenburg believes only the Black Cats have a hope of bucking this trend after spending £100.5million on six new recruits

Sunderland have been fortunate with their FFP position, as Jobe Bellingham’s £27.8m sale has enabled far greater spending than other relegation-threatened clubs

‘The last team to try it was Nottingham Forest. They were criticised for signing 28 players, but Marinakis knew he had to spend to stay competitive. 

‘Forest were criticised and had a points deduction but were lucky enough with the size of their squad to survive.

‘Sunderland are trying that strategy now. They might just have a chance at staying up. But it’s only a small chance.’

The podcast co-host, who officiated nearly 300 Premier League matches during his career, argued that it’s not ‘a lack of fight’ that keeps newly promoted sides from staying up.

Clattenburg said that a lack of squad depth eventually catches up with former Championship sides, despite an initial post-promotion boost in form.

‘I remember watching Ipswich during the first few games of last season and thinking, wow, they’re really competitive’, the former official said.

‘Playing Liverpool, Manchester United – they looked strong. But in the end, 38 games doesn’t lie.

‘After that honeymoon period, it’s just game after game and it becomes really difficult for smaller squads.

Across the last two Premier League seasons (2023-25), all six promoted sides have immediately gone straight back down to the Championship.

Leeds have bolstered their squad with 5 new signings for £50 million, while Burnley have made 7 permanent additions for a modest £30 million

‘Look at the teams that finished in the bottom half last year, Manchester United, Tottenham, West Ham – that’s who you’re competing with.’

The three newly-promoted sides have spent a combined £180m in the transfer window so far.

Leeds have bolstered their squad with 5 new signings for £50m, while Burnley have made seven permanent additions for a modest £30m.

Leeds and Burnley have been accused by their fanbases of prioritising quantity over quality, while Sunderland have focused on signing well-regarded talent from Europe’s top leagues.

Mark Clattenburg: ‘Do I really see Sunderland, Leeds or Burnley being able to overtake Brentford or Wolves? Not really.’ Listen here

‘The newly-promoted sides have to hope either Brentford or Wolves have a bad season’, Clattenburg told the podcast.

‘Do I really see Sunderland, Leeds or Burnley being able to overtake them? Not really.

‘What used to drive me bonkers last year with Southampton or Leicester is they would constantly try to play out from the back.

‘They never did that in the Championship – they were pressing way too high and giving the ball away.

‘You can’t come up and give away silly goals. Teams used to just kick the ball upfront and have strikers that could chase it down. They would stay compact.

‘But now I watch these clubs try and play football against Liverpool or Manchester City and it drives me crazy.’

To listen to Ian Ladyman and Gordon Smart’s predictions of who will avoid the drop next season, search for Whistleblowers now, wherever you get your podcasts.