Sunderland are set to sign Juventus midfielder Khephren Thuram in a £42m deal. The Black Cats have turned down Chelsea advances for Granit Xhaka, who will now partner Thuram.

What does this mean for Sunderland?

The signing of Thuram would be a major coup for the Black Cats, who have just finished a successful season with a recent form of WWDDL. Xhaka was a key player for Sunderland last season, scoring one goal and six assists in the Premier League.

How will Thuram fit in?

Thuram is a similar player to Xhaka, with six goal contributions last season in Serie A action for Juventus. He is known for his energetic displays and has been labelled a "one-man army" by talent scout Jacek Kulig. The Frenchman would complement Xhaka nicely, with an 87% pass accuracy per Serie A match, coupled by winning a tenacious 3.8 duels per game.

What's next for Sunderland?

Sunderland are looking to build on their 7th place finish in the Premier League with 54 points from 38 games, and the signing of Thuram would be a major step in the right direction. The Black Cats are now 41 points behind leaders Coventry, but with Xhaka and Thuram in the midfield, they will be looking to close the gap next season. Their last result was a 2-1 win over Chelsea on 2026-05-24, and they are on a 4-game winning run, with a recent form of 4W-1D-0L