Sunderland's transfer committment underlines exciting Enzo Le Fee potential
What a sensational signing Enzo Le Fee will be for Sunderland. A gifted midfield player that two top European clubs have spent a combined total of close to £36million on in the past two years.
He must have something about him to have commanded the attention of a club like Italian giants Roma from whom he has arrived on Wearside on loan. It’s a huge statement to the rest of the Championship that the Black Cats mean business in their bid to reach the Premier League.
Sunderland aren’t big spenders under Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, and certainly so in terms of wages with the club’s highest-earner being Dan Ballard at a reported £25,000-a-week. Louis-Dreyfus has adopted a much more prudent and methodical way of spending since becoming a majority shareholder in 2022.
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According to Capology, Ballard is the club’s current highest-earner and while that’s a big wage, it doesn’t compare to what the likes of Leeds United, Burnley or Sheffield United pay some of their players.
Top Italian tipster Fabrizio Romano all but confirmed the move on Wednesday night and what is fascinating is the Italian journalist’s take on just who will be paying Le Fee, who signed for Roma from Rennes last summer but who has only started six times in Serie A this term. Capology put Le Fee’s weekly wage at Roma at a whopping £69,000-a-week. But Romano has revealed on X that Le Fee’s salary is ‘covered’ by Roma.
Romano posted: “Loan deal, salary covered, buy option clause to become mandatory if Sunderland get promoted. Potential value up to €23/24m.”
If that is the case that is a staggering coup for Sunderland. I’m not sure if Sunderland’s French head coach Regis Le Bris is familiar with the expression ‘have your cake and eat it’ but it appears that will be the case as far as Le Fee is concerned.
Le Bris had the player under his wing in his breakthrough year at FC Lorient. The Le Bris effect has obviously been a factor in the move and he should take a lot of the credit for the club being able to pull off such a fabulous piece of business. The option to buy in the summer if promotion is achieved is another interesting aspect.
Given that Roma paid £19million for Le Fee just a few months ago, the Italians, managed by Claudio Ranieri, are sure to want at least the same amount back should they sell him in the summer.
Another report from Sky Sports Italy stated that Sunderland will pay £19millon to sign Le Fee in the event of promotion. That would make Le Fee by far and away Sunderland’s most expensive signing. Firstly, though, Sunderland have the benefit of a player who could make the difference between them reaching the Premier League or not. That is an exciting proposition for supporters.
Hitting the ground running will be key to that happening and it will be fascinating to see where he will fit into the starting line-up, and who will be left out. It certainly makes for a star-studded midfield and there is the mouthwatering prospect of him playing alongside the likes of Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg, providing, of course, Sunderland don’t sell some of their prime assets this month.
