Sunderland’s transfer business is set to heat up after entering the final month of the transfer window.
Sunderland have so far made three new signings, while they are yet to offload any of their prized assets.
Jack Clarke still looks likely to leave, but the club are yet to receive any concrete offers for his signature.
The likes of Trai Hume and Pierre Ekwah remain of interest to clubs in the Premier League and across Europe, but Sunderland will certainly be hoping to keep hold of at least the former.
The club are yet to receive any demands from their players to leave though, despite a number of them likely to fall down the pecking order this season.
The likes of Adil Aouchiche, Abdoullah Ba and Nazariy Rusyn will be battling hard for a place in the squad, with none of them particularly impressing in preseason.
Aouchiche was snapped up last summer and was one of the few signings that showed some spark last term, but he has a lot of work to do if he wants to establish himself as a regular.
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Adil Aouchiche open to Sunderland exit
However, the ‘talented’ Frenchman appears to be considering leaving Wearside before he is even given a chance to impress his compatriot Regis Le Bris.
According to Algerian news outlet DZFoot, Aouchiche is open to leaving Sunderland this summer.
The report claims that the 22-year-old could earn himself his first cap for Algeria next month if he can impress at the start of the season, but sees it as a ‘very plausible option’ to leave Sunderland to find his form.
Aouchiche picked up two goals and two assists in 28 appearances last season, but managed only 10 starts.
He did start six of their final nine matches though and looked to be finding his feet in the Championship.
Sunderland should keep hold of their talented midfielder
It was always going to be a tough first season in England for the Frenchman and it clearly took him a while to settle in – much like the other arrivals from abroad.
However, he was one of the only new signings that looked like he had a lot of potential and could prove to be a real threat for Sunderland.
The arrivals of Ian Poveda and Alan Browne could pose a threat to his place in the team, but he is certainly a brilliant player to have on the bench and to push his teammates for their starting spot.
It would be completely understandable as to why he would want to leave in search of regular minutes though, but it still seems unlikely given that the club haven’t even received any interest in him.
While the Black Cats could surely make profit after only a year, Aouchiche seems like one to take a risk on and keep him around for at least another season.
Le Bris is familiar with the midfielder from their time together at Lorient and could look to get the best out of him.