Sunderland AFC weighing up move for ex-West Brom player | OneFootball

The former West Brom, Wigan and Cardiff defender is on the radar of recently-promoted Sunderland after his current club was relegated in a play-off.

Sunderland are interested in signing the Stade de Reims defender Cedric Kipre, as they seek further reinforcements ahead of their return to the Premier League.

The Black Cats returned to the top flight following an absence of eight years after beating Sheffield United in the play-off final at Wembley. But now that the celebration bunting has been taken down, the important job of giving themselves a chance of staying up now begins.

Cedric Kipre has been identified as a defensive option by Sunderland

It's been reported by AfricaFoot that Sunderland are considering the Ivorian central defender Cedric Kipre of Stade de Reims as "a serious option", as the summer transfer window opens.

They suggest that Kipre's record of "solidity, consistency and leadership" has attracted the interest of a number of clubs, and that Sunderland have "a particular interest" in him.

Kipre is plenty familiar with the English game, having played five seasons in the Championship for West Bromwich Albion, Cardiff City and Wigan Athletic, but while he's spent time on the books of Premier League clubs - he was on Leicester's books when they won the Premier League in 2016, having joined them from PSG's academy two years earlier - he's never actually played a game in the English top flight.

Figures from Sofascore

Kipre's 2024/25 season ended in disaster for Stade de Reims

Kipre left West Bromwich Albion in July 2024, having turned down a new contract from the club after receiving both the club's Players' and Supporters' Player of the Season awards for 2023/24.

He signed a new contract to join Ligue Un club Stade de Reims, but his first season there turned out to be somewhat mixed. Reims went all the way to the Coupe de France final before losing 3-0 to Paris Saint-Germain, but they struggled in Ligue Un all season and finished third-bottom in the table, necessitating a relegation play-off. Having drawn their first leg 1-1 away to Metz, they lost the return leg 3-1 after extra-time to confirm their relegation.

Kipre's reviews have been positive throughout the season, though, just as they were for West Bromwich Albion the season before. But he wouldn't be a free transfer. He was out of contract when he went to Reims, but he signed a three-year contract with them, so he's tied to the club until 2027.

Sunderland have a lot of work to do if they're to bring in the players that they need to survive a season in the Premier League, and Kipre is a solid option.

His reputation has grown over the last couple of years, so there will likely be strong competition from elsewhere, but if the Black Cats can secure his signature, it would be a solid defensive option for Regis Le Bris as his squad is rebuilt for the fresh challenge ahead.