With transfer deadline day fast approaching, it seems another Sunderland player is heading for the exit door, but fans aren’t quite sure they want him to leave.
So far this month, the only confirmed Sunderland signing has been Enzo Le Fee, who arrived on loan from AS Roma until the end of the season.
The club has also said goodbye to Aaron Connolly and Nazariy Rusyn, but it would appear Sunderland are lining up another departure before the window closes.
While the man in question has served a purpose under Regis Le Bris at times this season, some fans do believe it’s for the best he moves on, while others would rather see him stay.
Adil Aouchiche is a useful player, but Sunderland have to let him leave
It emerged on Thursday that Adil Aouchiche could be set to leave Sunderland, albeit temporarily, with a loan move to Portsmouth mooted for the French winger.
Addressing the idea of Aouchiche’s exit on Twitter/X, James Copley asked fans if they’d be happy to see the move come to fruition, and the general consensus appears to be that the player needs to get more game time, but the Black Cats should keep him close by for the future.
Those against the move said they would “rather keep him” and insisted Aouchiche is “better than that level,” while another suggested Sunderland should not “do Portsmouth any favours.”
The fact this would be a temporary switch certainly appealed to one supporter, who said: “Only on loan. He needs game time.”
Looking at things from Aouchiche’s perspective, one supporter added: “Think he’s been treated appallingly to be honest. Too good a player not to use, although I’d like to see more of him, it just won’t happen. Decent signing for Portsmouth if this happens too.”
Another said: “He can go as he’s not been used at all recently (unfairly maybe) and still lacks a good end product.”
And, looking at the Sunderland squad, one fan thinks it’s the best move for everyone, adding: “For his development from a footballing perspective it’s only fair. He’s behind Le Fee and will be behind both Mundle and Watson in the pecking order when they’re back. That being said I don’t think we saw the best of him. He’s a good player and I’ll be sad to see him go.”
Sunderland are about to get a lot stronger thanks to returning players
The fans make a good point. While Aouchiche has contributed fairly effectively over the last few weeks, he is about to become far less important at Sunderland once Tommy Watson and Romaine Mundle are fit again.
They should be back in action in the next two or three weeks, which will give Sunderland a whole new dynamic. It will allow Enzo Le Fee to move into a more central role, which is certainly where he performs best.
With Patrick Roberts on the right, and the likes of Chris Rigg and Eliezer Mayenda also capable of filling in on the wings, there will be very little chance for Aouchiche to get the minutes he needs on Wearside.
But, with big clubs circling Sunderland’s top talent, it makes sense to keep the 22-year-old on the books, just in case they need him in the future.