Kristjaan Speakman is on hold with regards to Sunderland’s summer transfer business, waiting patiently to see how this season pans out.
The one confirmation is that Sunderland will be playing in the Championship play-offs this season, after their 0-0 draw at Norwich City in midweek sealed their spot in the top six.
Regis Le Bris now has five games left to get his players freshened up for the play-offs and so we could see a lot more rotation between now and the end of the season, with several Sunderland players having looked leggy of late.
There’s also one or two names expected to return to action in the coming weeks too including Dennis Cirkin and Dan Ballard, who’ll definitely add some vital depth to a defence that is looking very light on numbers right now.
Alan Browne has impressed at right-back though and Chris Mepham continues to be a rock at the back, putting in an impressive performance against Norwich City. But the Bournemouth loan man’s future remains very much up in the air.
Danny Collins gives verdict on Sunderland signing Chris Mepham
Mepham, 27, joined Sunderland on loan from Bournemouth on deadline day last summer. He’s since played 33 times in the Championship scoring one goal, proving to be a vital player in a season where Ballard hasn’t been able to stay injury-free. But Mepham is set to return to Bournemouth at the end of the season.
The latest on that front came from Kristjaan Speakman himself. Speakman hinted at being interested in signing Mepham who’s technically out of contract in the summer although the Cherries have the option to extend his stay by a further year.
Speaking on Total Sport after the Norwich City game, former Sunderland defender Danny Collins has backed the Black Cats to sign Wales defender Mepham in the summer, saying: “[He’s] one of the senior lads in the team isn’t he, with the young squad we’ve got, and he sort of shows that on the pitch as well, plays with a good maturity.
“Bit of Premier League experience behind him as well… He’s a regular seven, eight out of 10, and he was again last night [against Norwich City]. I think he’d be a good addition if they can get him in in the summer.”
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Transfer expert reveals Bournemouth’s plan for Chris Mepham
Although Bournemouth can extend Mepham’s stay by another year and then likely cash in on him after a strong 2024/25 season, transfer expert Graeme Bailey revealed to Sunderland AFC News earlier in the year that Bournemouth will release Mepham this summer.
But Bailey also explained that Mepham, who cost Bournemouth £12million in 2019, has interest from elsewhere in the Championship, so it wouldn’t be a straight-forward deal for the Black Cats. Though expect them to stand a very good chance of signing him with Mepham having enjoyed a brilliant season at the Stadium of Light.
Keeping him fit and firing for the play-offs will be vital.