Enzo Le Fee looks like a world-beater after just a few games in the Championship with Sunderland. But underlying all the positivity is something that could really have a negative impact come the summer.
Enzo Le Fee has quickly become a fan favourite at Sunderland. He’s taken just four games to get to grips with the Championship, shining for the Black Cats in the 3-2 win over Middlesbrough in midweek.
The Frenchman grabbed an assist and gave Boro full-back Luke Ayling a nightmare evening. Already then it seems like the club are getting their money’s worth with the Sunderland owners reportedly paying Le Fee’s Roma wages until the summer.
Then in the event of promotion, Sunderland will sign Le Fee in a £20million deal. Whilst all seems rosy now, there’s one big issue brewing with the whole Le Fee to Sunderland deal, but it’s nothing to do with Le Fee himself.
Le Fee originally signed as a central midfielder. On his debut, Regis Le Bris played Le Fee out on the left and whilst Sunderland fans wanted to see Le Fee in the middle, he’s remained out wide where he’s been impressive.
Now though, there’s a selection headache coming for Le Bris who has Romaine Mundle and Tommy Watson returning to action in February. For Watson in particular, the arrival of Le Fee might not be such good news.
And for the club too; Le Fee keeping Watson out the side could really dent the latter’s transfer value ahead of the summer transfer window, where Brighton are set to move for Watson after their failed deadline day attempt to sign the teenager.
The main thing to note is that having Le Fee, Mundle and Watson as options for just one position is a huge positive, on the whole, for Le Bris. He now has bags of quality in attack and the best thing about someone like Le Fee is that he can multiple roles.
That might well be the case now. We could see Le Fee move into the no.10 role or even into the middle alongside Dan Neil, whilst those in front of him chop and change.
Having Mundle and Watson fighting for the left-sided starting spot, just by themselves, could see both get equal amounts of game time. And importantly for Sunderland it’ll keep Watson in the shop window ahead of a big potential summer sale.
And that summer sale could be very well needed if Sunderland and Watson can’t agree new terms in the coming months.
