A drop from the Premier League into the Championship is one that can have severe financial repercussions on a club, as the big risks that were taken to ensure safety are exposed for what they are: terrible pieces of mismanagement.
However, dropping almost straight from the Premier League to League One, in just two seasons, would often spell the end for most clubs.
Should Villa give Kaine Kesler a chance?
It arguably should do, with the gulf in money between the divisions.
So, when Sunderland fell victim to their infamous collapse, it was hard to imagine them ever returning to the Premier League in the next decade or so.
Despite this, a few seasons of miserable stability in League One and a subsequent promotion last season now sees them sitting 12th in the Championship, dreaming of a potential push in the near future to return to the promised land.
Alex Neil had built a solid team with quality and hard work all across the pitch, which Tony Mowbray inherited in late August.
The beacon of his steely side is the midfield pairing of Corry Evans and Dan Neil, as two unspectacular but solid options.
However, recent reports have emerged that note the Black Cats’ interest in making a huge upgrade on the latter, as Morgan Sanson of Aston Villa has become available.
Drawing interest from a host of French clubs as well as Swansea City, perhaps the stature of Sunderland could be the draw to convince the 28-year-old to give England another chance.
To even be linked with players like this feels like a fever dream given how dead and buried the club looked just a few years ago.
Having suffered from injuries and a lack of football in the Midlands, a six-month trip to Wearside could see him shine like he once did in Ligue 1, at a level that is admittedly below him.
In the full season before Villa unloaded £16m on the Frenchman, he had scored five and assisted five more for Marseille as they finished runners-up to Paris Saint-Germain.
He was awarded an average SofaScore rating of 6.81 that campaign, which is a marked improvement on the 6.68 of Neil so far.
To pair him with Evans, who is averaging 2.2 tackles and 1.6 interceptions per game, would give him the freedom to truly shine.
A classy but workmanlike midfielder, if fit he would offer far more than the 20-year-old at the Stadium of Light, who would then provide a brilliant option for added depth and could grow into that role.
His experience would offer an added bonus too, as Dean Smith described him as a “great technician” with a “big game mentality”.
It would be a sensational coup for Mowbray, to partner him with Evans, and could be the final piece to help them push towards the promotion places.
