Wrexham AFC eyeing Chris Mepham transfer with big 2026 factor in-mind | OneFootball

The centre-half will be a strong target for a number of second-tier clubs this summer.

Wrexham are among a number of Championship clubs who are interested in signing Chris Mepham this summer.

The Welshman's impressive last campaign with Sunderland, where he was a first XI regular and helped lead the club back to the Premier League, has caught the eye of a number of teams in the Black Cats' old division.

They appear unlikely to make their former loanee a permanent fixture of Regis Le Bris' squad, and so an opportunity to sign Mepham may be lurking for a Championship club.

Wrexham are looking to strengthen in defence by adding more experience to their backline. It's been a common trait of their summer business, bringing in well-versed operators, but their early kick-off 3-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday proved that their backline has room for improvement.

Wrexham considering a move for Wales centre-back Chris Mepham

Mepham is one of the players that they are looking at to help in this area of the pitch, according to TEAMtalk. The Welsh international didn't feature in Bournemouth's squad for their opening day loss to Liverpool on Friday, and is likely to be available for a move.

Other targets that the online outlet has linked the Red Dragons with include the respective captains of Sheffield United and Cardiff City, Jack Robinson and Callum Chambers. However, compared to Mepham, these two options are less likely due to their current club's desire to hold onto the players.

The 27-year-old has less than a year left on his deal with the Cherries, making a permanent move more likely for him this summer. He seeks regular first-team football, according to TEAMtalk, in order to give him the best chance of making it into Wales' squad for the 2026 World Cup, should they qualify.

Wrexham have already signed three of Mepham's national teammates this summer. Danny Ward, Kieffer Moore and, most recently, Nathan Broadhead, have come back to their home country to play for the newly promoted side. The signing of Broadhead for a club-record fee took the club's summer spending beyond £20 million, according to The Athletic.

Lewis Koumas, another of Craig Bellamy's players, is being monitored by Wrexham, as per TEAMtalk. Josh Windass' thigh injury has opened the door for the club to add further bodies up top.

Wrexham should definitely push for Chris Mepham move

As far as loan stints go, Mepham's one at the Stadium of Light was one of the most successful in the Championship last season. His consistent presence at the back was a calming factor for Sunderland amid a lot of injury issues in this position. His time under Le Bris certainly proved that, if he were to join Wrexham, he could be one of the top defenders in the division.

It would take some time for him to get fully up to speed, both because of his lack of minutes so far this summer and because of the different system he would be playing in under Parkinson, but, in time, this could prove to be a fantastic addition by the Red Dragons, if they can beat their Championship competitors to Mepham's signature.