Sunderland may already have a potentially key signing in their sights, with loan star Chris Mepham continuing to impress.
Chris Mepham joined Sunderland on loan from Bournemouth during the summer transfer window.
The Welsh international was brought in as defensive cover following the injury to Aji Alese, with Mepham having also stepped in during Dan Ballard’s injury absence.
Mepham, 26, has now started the last five league games for Regis Le Bris’ side, who claimed a 1-0 win against Hull City last time out.
Mepham was influential in the win. After the game, Sunderland boss Le Bris praised Mepham, saying: “He plays for the team, he has very good experience and is very important in the dressing room and on the pitch, individually and with the others.
“It is like a gift for a coach and a team like us. His maturity is very helpful for us.”
Sunderland’s chances of permanent Chris Mepham deal now rated
An emerging report from Michael Graham on Sunderland Nation has now delved into the chances of Sunderland signing Mepham on a permanent deal from Bournemouth.
Graham points out that, unlike with Sunderland’s loan deal for Wilson Isidor from Zenit, the Black Cats do not have an option to buy Mepham.
Mepham is out of contract next summer but the Cherries have a one-year option on his current deal.
Graham writes: “It feels highly unlikely that Bournemouth will choose to release a player they paid a lot of money for on a free when they will be able to demand a decent fee for him, so then it becomes a question for the open market really.”
Graham also alludes to the fact that Mepham could put himself in the shop window, even for a Premier League move, should he perform well at the Stadium of Light this season.
And with regards to a possible January move, Graham writes: “We don’t really have a precedent for the current ownership making that kind of a move.”
What is Chris Mepham’s current Bournemouth wage?
Bournemouth signed Mepham for a reported £12million from Brentford in January 2019.
He signed a four-and-a-half year deal with the south-coast club, and per Capology, the 47-cap Welshman earns £35,000-a-week, which makes him one of the lowest-earning first-team players at Bournemouth.
Per the same source, Sunderland’s current highest-earning player is Ballard, at £25,000-a-week.
What does Andoni Iraola think of Chris Mepham?
Cherries boss Andoni Iraola handed Mepham just 10 appearances in the Premier League last season, then allowing him to leave on loan during the summer.
But the Spaniard speaks highly of Mepham. In February this year, Iraola told Bournemouth Echo of Mepham’s lack of game time: “He has some players right now in front of him that are performing really well.
“I think defensively we have been really, really good. We haven’t been conceding almost anything.
“But he is super professional. He trains really well and whenever we need him, I know that he will be ready.
“It is not an easy situation now for sure, but I am sure he will not leave the others to rest.
“I think he will be demanding with his teammates and that is something which is very good for me and the team.”
Chris Mepham’s Sunderland stats so far
Mepham currently averages the second-most accurate passes-per-game of any Sunderland player (45.6, behind only Luke O’Nien), with the third-most accurate long balls-per-game (1.8).
The centre-back then averages 1.2 tackles-per-game (seventh-most), 1.2 interceptions-per-game (fifth-most), and 4.2 clearances-per-game (most of any Sunderland player).
Leave a Reply