adminSince the summer transfer window opened in June, Sunderland have added just one senior player to their first-team squad.
Despite securing Europa League qualification and the resulting need for greater squad depth to handle additional fixtures, Thomas Meunier remains the Black Cats’ sole signing so far.
Regis Le Bris and his recruitment team must continue working to bring in fresh faces, ensuring the squad has sufficient cover for both Premier League and European commitments.
Strengthening the attack is also a priority, given Sunderland managed only 42 goals in 38 league matches during their seventh-place finish.
Why Sunderland need more signings in the mould of Enzo Le Fee
Last summer, the club focused heavily on acquiring physical players capable of handling the Premier League’s intensity—names like Granit Xhaka, Brian Brobbey, Omar Alderete, and Nordi Mukiele.
While understandable, this approach sometimes left the side short on craft and subtlety, with a lack of technical quality across the pitch. That could become a concern if defensive standards slip.
Enzo Le Fee was a rare exception—a player signed purely for his technical ability rather than physical attributes.
Though the French attacking midfielder lost over half his physical duels in the Premier League, he contributed five goals and six assists, plus one goal in three FA Cup appearances.
Sunderland should now target more players like Le Fee—those who bring technical quality to elevate the attack and complement the physically dominant players already in place.
Sunderland agree terms with a Le Fee-style talent
Recent links suggest the club is indeed pursuing more technically gifted recruits. According to RMC Sport journalist Fabrice Hawkins, Sunderland are in negotiations to sign Toulouse left-back Dayann Methalie before the window closes.
Personal terms have reportedly been agreed with the 20-year-old, who would sign a five-year contract if the move goes through. However, the two clubs are still discussing a transfer fee, with Toulouse seeking around £25m for their prized asset.
Although Methalie is not an attacking midfielder, the France U21 international shares similarities with Le Fee: he isn’t particularly dominant in physical duels but offers quality and dynamism on the ball. In Ligue 1 during the 2025/26 season, he lost 60% of his duels—an area for improvement.
Yet his attacking contributions stand out. The 20-year-old ranked highly among peers for dribbling past opponents, entering the box, and creating chances. Notably, he also won 55% of ground duels and 55% of aerial battles, indicating a contrasting profile to Sunderland’s more attack-minded left-back options.
Adding Methalie would give Le Bris two very different left-back profiles, offering tactical versatility depending on the opponent. Like Le Fee last year, Methalie would bring dynamism and an attacking mindset, pushing forward from defence to support the attack.
For that reason, Sunderland should meet Toulouse’s £25m valuation and push the deal through in the coming days.
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