Why the £32m star would be a dream signing for Meunier at Sunderland

Sunderland officially confirmed the signing of two-year-old defender Thomas Meunier on a free transfer on Wednesday morning.

The 34-year-old has been out of work since his contract with Ligue 1 side Lille expired earlier this month, and is now set to play Premier League football for the first time in his career.

He played three times for Belgium at the World Cup this summer, meaning he will have an extended break before joining the pre-season, but did not feature in their quarter-final loss to Spain.

Meunier also started 21 of 25 games in Ligue 1 for Lille in the 2025/26 campaign, so he will not join to become an experienced player who does not normally play.

Where Thomas Meunier will join Sunderland

The Belgian full-back is not an incredibly versatile player who is likely to play many minutes outside of a senior position, having never started more than 11 games outside of right-back or right-back in his club career.

That means the 34-year-old star will compete directly at right-back alongside Nordi Mukiele and Trai Hume, or for the right-back role if Regis Le Bris goes for a three-man formation.

Having a Europa League campaign to look forward to means the Black Cats will have plenty of minutes to share, and the former Borussia Dortmund talent could be their first choice in Europe.

Mukiele and Hume could compete for a regular starting spot in the Premier League, allowing the veteran full-back to play in the Europa League and allowing the other two, younger, options to rest.

The Black Cats, however, will not expect him to do much at the other end of the pitch, having produced just three goals and four assists in 77 appearances over the past two campaigns for the club.

Sunderland are in talks to sign Thomas Meunier’s dream partner

Meunier’s lack of a right back is why it is important for the club to bring in a quality right winger who can play in front of an experienced defender.

Dutch side FR12 are now reporting that Sunderland are pursuing a deal to sign Feyenoord winger Anis Hadj Moussa in the summer transfer window.

The newspaper says that the Black Cats, along with Como and Paris FC, have already contacted each other to open discussions with the Eredivisie giants about what it takes to get the Algerian star.

It adds that Feyenoord are looking at a fee in the region of £32m for the 24-year-old attacker, however, and are yet to receive substantial bids for his services.

The Algerian could use that kind of money because he would be the perfect player to partner Meunier on the right next season.

Hadj Moussa is a proven talent in European football, having scored two goals in eight Europa League games and three goals in 11 Champions League games for Feyenoord, and could fill Meunier’s attacking role at right back.

The 24-year-old wizard would not end up helping the Belgian in European games, as his league form in the Netherlands suggests he has the potential to become a productive striker in the Premier League.

In the 2025/26 campaign, the £32m-rated striker scored 11 goals at 6.78 xG and created 16 ‘big chances’ and 11.14 xA in the Eredivisie, although he was rewarded with just six assists for his brilliance.

No Sunderland player created more than 13 ‘big chances’ or achieved more than 5.92 xA in the Premier League last term, suggesting Hadj Moussa will be the Black Cats’ standout creator.

His haul of 11 goals in the Eredivisie was also the least four more than any Sunderland player has produced in the league, as Brian Brobbey was the top scorer with seven goals.

Therefore, Hadj Moussa could be Le Bris’ right-wing striker by being their biggest goal threat and best creator, canceling out Meunier’s lack of consistent attacking quality at right-back, which is why it would be a dream for the latest signing.