Surprise An agreement between Sunderland and AFC Bournemouth may be a brilliant move: Look at

Surprise An agreement between Sunderland and AFC Bournemouth may be a brilliant move: Look at

All of the chatter on Wearside had been about possible strikers who might be joining the Stadium of Light. Following a number of names being connected to the team, Ahmed Abdullahi was the one who signed with KAA Gent.

But it was Chris Mepham’s name that took the supporters by surprise. The Welsh international, who was signed by the Wearsiders on a season-long loan from Bournemouth, will offer competitive competition at center defense.

Mepham’s signing is a smart one, to be sure, and considering his breadth of experience, it might be the one that separates Sunderland from the rest of the league.

Mepham will bolster Sunderland’s defense.

Sunderland’s defense is strong, but Mepham’s arrival will strengthen the center-back position even more. With just 54 goals allowed, Sunderland’s defense was the fifth best in the division the previous season.

The Black Cats’ defense has been playing well this season; in their first four Championship games, they have let up just one goal. In addition, Luke O’Nien, the captain of the Sunderland club, scored that goal.

Mepham is a 26-year-old defender who is about to reach his prime. He has a ton of experience in both the Premier League and the Championship. The defender has made 169 appearances while playing for Bournemouth and Brentford, and he was promoted with the Cherries.

Mepham is Sunderland’s most experienced player, in contrast to the other players. With his Premier League background, he might potentially end up serving as a sort of mentor for the younger Wearsiders players.

The Welsh international, who loves to make huge interceptions and thrives in tackles, has a profile identical to that of Dan Ballard. Mepham, who has 36 caps for his country, will be fighting for a spot in Regis Le Bris’ starting lineup.

As demonstrated in recent weeks, Sunderland’s center backfield is prone to injuries. Dan Ballard made his season debut on Saturday after missing the most of the preseason and the beginning of the competitive campaign due to a knee ailment. Strangely enough, Aji Alese’s injury—a strained ankle sustained during training—occurred just before Ballard made his comeback. The 23-year-old, who had a fantastic start to the season, will now miss over 12 weeks of action, according to Le Bris. Mepham’s recruitment could be viewed as a bit of a masterstroke given his expertise, as the Welshman is expected to have a good impact on the team.

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