AliousSunderland head coach Régis Le Bris has expressed hope that the club can emulate the success of Chris Mepham’s signing during the upcoming January transfer window.
Mepham, who joined Sunderland on a deadline-day loan from Bournemouth, has been a standout performer in what has been an impressive first half of the season.
With significant experience in the top two tiers of English football, the 26-year-old defender represents a departure from Sunderland’s usual recruitment strategy, which has often focused on younger, developing players.
Le Bris has previously emphasized that the club will prioritize quality over quantity in January, and Mepham appears to be the model for their planned approach. However, this time, the focus is expected to shift towards securing attacking reinforcements.
Speaking about the January window, Le Bris said, “Yes, probably. It’s that type of target, I agree. The team is very well balanced at the minute.
We have many injuries, but we can expect some will be available soon.
If we want to add something to the team, it should be someone ready to play and make an immediate impact, rather than a player who needs time to develop.
It should be the type of target like Mepham was at the beginning of the season.”
While Mepham’s future with Sunderland remains uncertain, given that many loan agreements include a January recall option, Le Bris remains optimistic about retaining the defender for the rest of the campaign.
“At the moment, nothing specific [has been discussed],” Le Bris said. “He’s with us, and I trust him for the second half of the season.”
As Sunderland prepares for the January transfer window, Le Bris’s comments highlight the club’s intent to bring in players who can deliver immediate results, following the success of Mepham’s addition earlier in the season.
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