Sunderland agree to sign Bournemouth’s Chris Mepham – sources
Sunderland have agreed to sign Bournemouth defender Chris Mepham on loan, sources have told Football Insider.
Sheffield United had been widely linked with the Wales international but the Black Cats have stepped in to hijack the deal.
Mepham will now undergo a medical and other formalities ahead of the transfer deadline at 11pm on Friday (30 August).
The centre-back has not appeared in a matchday squad for Bournemouth this season and is now set to get regular first-team football in the Championship.
He joined the Cherries from Brentford in 2019 and has made 121 appearances for the south coast club.
Mepham played just 13 times across all competitions in the 2023-24 campaign and has been pushed further down the pecking order following the arrival of Dean Huijsen.
Sunderland agree Mepham loan on deadline day
The 36-cap Wales ace has entered the final year of his contract at Bournemouth.
Sunderland sit top of the Championship after picking up maximum points from their first three second-tier games.
The Black Cats have made five signings so far in the summer window.
Bournemouth still have Huijsen, Ilya Zabarni, Marcos Senesi and James Hill in their centre-back ranks.
Andoni Iraola’s side, who have spent lavishly this summer, have picked up two points from their first two Premier League games this term.
In other news, winner named in Sunderland, Portsmouth & Oxford race for defender.
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