REGIS Le Bris has outlined why he believes Enzo Le Fee is an ideal fit for Sunderland, as the midfielder puts the finishing touches to his sensational move from Roma.

Le Fee was pictured on a flight to the North East on Thursday afternoon after Sunderland's move for the 24-year-old got the green light, and is now undergoing his medical on Wearside.

The Roma midfielder will initially join on loan until the end of the season, but the deal will be made permanent in the summer for what will be a club-record fee worth £20m should the Black Cats win promotion.

Le Bris was keen to stress that the deal hadn't yet been finalised when he spoke to the media on Thursday afternoon, but did explain why he was so keen on reuniting with the midfielder, who he previously managed at Lorient.

He said: "I can't say anything right now because it's not done.

"This market in particular we spoke a lot about opportunities we could have and the targets are still the same.

"We would like to have a player who knows the system and used to play in this model and are connected with this specific identity. This player could fit with that. But I repeat it's not done.

"It's a market with many opportunities, some are possible, some are not."

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Versatile Le Fee is comfortable playing in several midfield roles.

"He used to play as a 10, eight, sometimes as a six in a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3," said Le Bris, who insisted he "didn't know" whether the deal would be finalised in time for Le Fee to potentially feature against Stoke City in the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon.

The capture of Le Fee is a major coup for the Black Cats. Le Fee joined Roma in the summer in deal reportedly worth €23m having previously impressed in France.

Le Fee has struggled to establish himself in Italy and didn't feature in the plans of Roma boss Claudio Ranieri.