Regis Le Bris may be the one who dictates the future of one player who arrived at Sunderland during the summer transfer window.
The summer transfer window is now proving to be a positive one for Sunderland, who’ve made a very strong start to the new season under Regis Le Bris.
Following a 1-0 win vs Middlesbrough at the weekend, Sunderland now sit in 2nd place of the Championship table after the opening six games of the campaign.
The Black Cats bounced back from a 3-2 defeat vs Plymouth Argyle the previous weekend and now look as though they could really push on and emerge as early title challengers in the second tier.
The news signings have bedded in nicely. The first-team squad at the Stadium of Light now looks to have strength and depth, with the club’s four-player deadline day haul having put the finishing touches on the squad.
One player who arrived on deadline day was Chris Mepham.
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Chris Mepham discusses Bournemouth future following Sunderland debut
Welsh international Mepham joined Sunderland on loan from Bournemouth on deadline day and made his debut for the Black Cats against Middlesbrough.
Dan Ballard picked up an injury vs Plymouth and was rested for the game vs Boro. Marco Gabbiadini hailed Mepham following what was an impressive debut, where he settled into the XI neatly.
Fans have been impressed by the early signs of Mepham, who is out of contract at Bournemouth next summer.
Discussing his future with the Cherries, Mepham told The Northern Echo: “This is my final year and I think the club have the option of next year. I don’t want to look too far ahead.
“I think naturally you keep it week by week because a lot can happen in a short period of time.”
Mepham added: “All of that will look after itself but I think for me the most important thing is just getting game time, staying fit and staying injury-free.”
Why Regis Le Bris holds all the cards over Chris Mepham future
With Mepham, Ballard, and Luke O’Nien currently fit, and Aji Alese to eventually return from injury, Sunderland now have some good options in the middle of defence.
But it certainly seems like O’Nien and Ballard are the first-picks under Le Bris, and that could mean a rotational role for Mepham across the season.
If Mepham doesn’t play a lot of football this season then he may well be released by Bournemouth, and he may fancy moving to a club where he gets game-time, which is what he says he wants right now.
If he does play regular football, and if he impresses, then it could tempt Bournemouth into keeping the centre-back for at least another year.
So for Mepham, it feels as though Le Bris hold all the cards with regards to his future; Mepham’s game time and performances this season will no doubt have a huge impact on where he ends up next season.
All Mepham can do is be reliable when called upon.