Sunderland aims to avoid immediate relegation by focusing on recruitment this summer. They recently signed Enzo Le Fee on a permanent basis from Roma for a club-record fee of £20 million. Le Fee previously spent the second half of the 2024/25 season on loan with Regis Le Bris’ team.
Le Fee demonstrated quality on the ball, with 1.3 dribbles completed per game, but he also averaged 2.5 tackles and interceptions per game in 11 league starts, implying that he may thrive in a relegation battle when defending is essential.
The French maestro also comes into the Premier League with plenty of experience in Europe’s major divisions, having played 132 games in Ligue 1 and six in Serie A, indicating that he is accustomed to playing at the highest level, which is why he may be an ideal signing for the Black Cats.
Sunderland eyeing deal for Premier League defender
Sunderland might duplicate their apparent success with Le Fee, a seasoned top-flight veteran who has already settled in and adapted to playing for the club, by signing another of their loan players.
The Northern Echo reports that the Premier League newcomers are considering a deal to bring Chris Mepham back to the Stadium of Light during the summer transfer season.
According to the source, the Wales international is one of several defensive possibilities under consideration by the Sunderland board as they consider a reunion with the Bournemouth centre-back.
Why Sunderland should sign Chris Mepham
The Black Cats should move quickly to secure Mepham on a permanent basis in the coming weeks to avoid a repeat of their Le Fee disaster.
The 27-year-old colossus, like the French great, would not require much time to adjust to his new surroundings, having just played 40 games on loan with the club during the 2024/25 season.
The Welsh titan, like Le Fee, has top-flight experience, having played 61 Premier League games for Bournemouth, indicating that he is familiar with the competition and may bring valuable expertise to a young side short on appearances at that level.
Mepham, who was described as “outstanding” by commentator Carlton Palmer, has also performed admirably for Sunderland in the Championship this season.
| 24/25 Championship | Chris Mepham |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 38 |
| Pass accuracy | 87% |
| Tackles + interceptions per game | 2.3 |
| Clearances per game | 6.1 |
| Ground duel success rate | 55% |
| Aerial duel success rate | 63% |
| Clean sheets | 11 |
| Stats via Sofascore | |
As shown in the table above, the Bournemouth loanee was dominant in his duels, contributing to the team’s 11 clean sheets in 38 second-tier games.
He also had the most clearances per match in the entire squad, surpassing Luke O’Nien and Dan Ballard, which could be attributed to his experience and know-how, as he excels at being in the right place at the right time at the heart of the defence.
Mepham was, therefore, a crucial player for Sunderland in the Championship, and that is why they should move ahead with a contract to sign him permanently, as a star who understands the club and has Premier League experience.
Like Le Fee, the 27-year-old brute would hit the ground running on Wearside in the top tier due to his loan spell at the Stadium of Light and the number of top-class games he has played.
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