Sunderland are looking for reinforcements in the transfer window despite being in a healthy position in the Championship. The Black Cats moved to within three points of Leeds United at the top of the Championship table after their 1-0 win over Portsmouth on Sunday.

They continue to impress with a young squad and a head coach who has shone at the Stadium of Light in what is his first job in England. Soon after Sunderland’s win over Portsmouth, it emerged the Black Cats have enquired about the possibility of signing French midfielder Enzo Le Fee from AS Roma.

Relevo reporter Matteo Moretto took to X to share information on the situation, with Real Betis and Sevilla mentioned too. He said: “Sunderland have inquired about Enzo Le Fee. It is an explicit request from the coach, Regis Le Bris, who worked with the French midfielder at Lorient. [Real] Betis has had contact with his entourage but an official offer to Roma has never been presented.”

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A report from Le Parisien offers more on that interest from Spain, with suggestions that both Betis and Sevilla had been tracking Le Fee, but that it is now looking less likely a move to La Liga will happen. It is said Le Fee is being “observed” by a number of clubs in the Championship, with Sunderland head coach Le Bris eager to “recruit” the midfielder this winter. Le Bris formerly worked with the 24-year-old at Lorient before the pair moved on last summer, with Le Fee making a £19m switch to Roma.

Meanwhile, the club have also been linked with Orlando Pirates and two-cap South African international midfielder Thalente Mbatha. But soon after the link was first revealed, the 24-year-old’s agent denied any interest from the Black Cats. An emerging report from popular South Africa news outlet Briefly has since clarified the situation, confirming that Sunderland do have an interest in Mbatha. Their sources also state that Mbatha would require a ‘massive transfer fee’ as he only joined the Pirates permanently in the summer.

Briefly said that their ‘source’ told them: “Although his agent denies it, there is interest from Sunderland AFC in England for Mbatha, but Pirates have no intention of selling the player.”

The report added: “If Sunderland want him, then it will have to be a massive transfer fee, but all indications are that Pirates want to keep him because he is a key player for coach Riveiro, and Mbatha is very happy here.”

That fee is understood to be close to £1m, not in any way unaffordable as far as Sunderland are concerned.