{"id":257958,"date":"2026-08-15T15:20:25","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T15:20:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/15\/fabrizio-romano-sunderland-have-agreed-signing-with-medical-in-the-next-days\/"},"modified":"2026-08-15T15:20:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T15:20:25","slug":"fabrizio-romano-sunderland-have-agreed-signing-with-medical-in-the-next-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/15\/fabrizio-romano-sunderland-have-agreed-signing-with-medical-in-the-next-days\/","title":{"rendered":"Fabrizio Romano: Sunderland have agreed signing with medical ‘in the next days’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Sunderland<\/a>\u2019s summer has been quiet by design, but it is beginning to come alive.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

After returning to the Premier League and finishing seventh last season, the Black Cats are preparing for the added demands of Europa League football.<\/p>\n

That has created a different challenge for R\u00e9gis Le Bris.<\/p>\n

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\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Lee Smith<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Sunderland signed 14 players ahead of their first campaign back in the top flight. This time, the head coach has stressed the need for carefully chosen additions instead of another sweeping rebuild.<\/p>\n

Thomas Meunier remains the only confirmed arrival, with the Belgian joining on a free transfer after leaving Lille and should add know-how at right-back during a packed season.<\/p>\n

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Sunderland’s opening Premier League fixtures<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Date<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Opponent<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Venue<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Kick-off<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Competition<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Saturday, August 22<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Ipswich Town<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Away<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3pm<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Premier League<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Sunday, August 30<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Fulham<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Home<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2pm<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Premier League<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Saturday, September 5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Brentford<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Away<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3pm<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Premier League<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Saturday, September 12<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Arsenal<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Home<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8pm<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Premier League<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Saturday, September 19<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Man City<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Away<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3pm<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Premier League<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Saturday, October 10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Brighton<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Home<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3pm*<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Premier League<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Saturday, October 17<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Bournemouth<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Away<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3pm*<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Premier League<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Saturday, October 24<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Leeds United<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Home<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3pm*<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Premier League<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Saturday, October 31<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Coventry City<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Away<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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3pm*<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Premier League<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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* times subject to change<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

Keeping Granit Xhaka has been just as important. Chelsea tested Sunderland\u2019s resolve with an \u00a38 million offer<\/a>, but Le Bris shut down the prospect of losing his captain and the midfielder is understood to be happy on Wearside.<\/p>\n

There has still been movement in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n

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\n \"mayenda-sunderland\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Eliezer Mayenda has joined Rennes in a major sale, while goalkeeper Anthony Patterson has completed a club-record move to Wrexham. Dan Neil, Dennis Cirkin, Bertrand Traor\u00e9 and Niall Huggins also departed when their contracts expired.<\/p>\n

Cirkin\u2019s exit left Sunderland short of a natural long-term option on the left. Reinildo can fill that role, but the European schedule means Le Bris requires more depth.<\/p>\n

That is why Dayann M\u00e9thalie has become such an important target.<\/p>\n

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\"dayann-methalie-toulouse\"\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Benoit Tessier<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The 20-year-old came through Toulouse\u2019s academy and made his senior breakthrough last season. Toulouse moved quickly to protect their rising star by extending his contract until 2030 in October.<\/p>\n

M\u00e9thalie can operate as a left-back, wing-back or on the left of centre-back, and while he won’t be arriving as the finished product, the defender has potential.<\/p>\n

The jump into Premier League football will be demanding and Sunderland are paying heavily for that potential rather than years of top-level experience.<\/p>\n