Sunderland have already pulled off one of the biggest deals of the January transfer window, and now fans can’t wait to see Enzo Le Fee in action.
With Sunderland mounting a surprise title challenge this season, it was important that Regis Le Bris got the backing he needed in the transfer market this month.
In a real signal of intent, the club has acted quickly to snap up the loan signing of Enzo Le Fee from Roma, and he’s now the joint-highest valued player in the Championship.
Ligue 1 experts have told Sunderland Le Fee is ‘really exciting’, and naturally, Black Cats fans are desperate to see what he’s all about, but they may not have to wait much longer.
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Enzo Le Fee is ‘ready’ to make his Sunderland debut vs Burnley
Speaking to the press after the FA Cup clash with Stoke City (via the Sunderland Echo), Le Bris was asked about his new signing and when we can expect to see him make his much-anticipated debut, and the Sunderland manager hinted it could be as soon as the Burnley game on Friday night.
Le Bris said: “Yes, probably because he’s in good shape and he will need time to connect with the team. So we’ll see, we’ll build the next steps but I think he’s ready to play.”
When asked if Le Fee’s arrival can open the door for more big signings this month, Le Bris added: “It’s a good signal for the club because it shows that Sunderland is attractive and we are playing good football.
“The club is massive and the crowd, the fans and the ambition are very clear. So now it’s a question of finding the right people to connect with the project. So we’ll see in the future and the next two or three weeks what will happen exactly.”
- READ MORE: Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris must learn from broken promise that Enzo Le Fee suffered at Roma
Enzo Le Fee could make all the difference in promotion six-pointer
Sunderland head to Turf Moor on Friday night knowing that a win against their promotion rivals would see them leapfrog Burnley into second place, with Sheffield United and Leeds United due to play on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
If Sunderland are to stay on track for promotion, they will need to get a result against Burnley, and Le Fee coming into that Black Cats midfield could be pivotal to their success.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  LeedsLeeds | 26 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 48 | 19 | 29 | 53 |
| 2 |  BurnleyBurnley | 26 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 31 | 9 | 22 | 52 |
| 3 |  Sheff UtdSheffield Utd | 26 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 36 | 17 | 19 | 52 |
| 4 |  SunderlandSunderland | 26 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 39 | 22 | 17 | 50 |
| 5 |  MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough | 26 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 43 | 32 | 11 | 41 |
| 6 |  West BromWest Brom | 26 | 9 | 13 | 4 | 32 | 21 | 11 | 40 |
It’s hard to know quite where Le Fee fits into Sunderland’s midfield right now, but we suspect he will operate in a deep-lying playmaker role, allowing the likes of Dan Neil, Jobe Bellingham, and Chris Rigg to venture forward more.
We know Burnley have Premier League quality throughout their squad, and their defensive record is incredible, but Le Fee’s combative nature and creativity could well be the key to unlocking the Clarets and giving Sunderland the edge in the promotion race.