One Sunderland player who was supposedly on his way out could now stay in Wearside after recent developments.
The Black Cats are looking to sanction sales this window, as well as bring in players before the January window closes.
Attacking areas are being targeted for change by Kristjaan Speakman and Regis Le Bris, who are being ambitious with incomings, whilst also sanctioning moves away from the club.
Sunderland are looking at the likes of Marcus Edwards from Sporting Lisbon and Willem Geubbels and Chuba Akpom, however, a deal for the latter looks to be unlikely with him set for a move to French side Lille.
Because of Speakman’s ambitions of revolutionising the attacking front, one player who was set to move temporarily away from Wearside was Adil Aouchiche, but his move has hit a strange stumbling block.
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Sunderland attacker Adil Aouchiche has Portsmouth move ‘completely blocked’
The Black Cats had already sanctioned a move for Sunderland winger Aouchiche to move, with fellow Championship side Portsmouth being lined up.
The potential move had stirred discontent amongst fans, who believed that the Frenchman deserved more of an opportunity in the Black Cats side, however, their dreams could still come true after recent revelations in Aouchiche’s move.
Per Santi Aouna, the Aouchiche deal to Portsmouth is reportedly ‘completely blocked’, despite the medical tests already being completed ahead of a loan that would have seen him relocate to the south coast for the remainder of the 2024/25 Championship campaign.
It is reported that ‘the midfielder doesn’t have the requisite GBE points (15). He would take up an ESC spot which Portsmouth don’t have.’
Adil Aouchiche potential deal block explained
An Elite Significant Contribution (ESC) spot is a place in a side’s squad to sign a non-UK player who does meet the Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) criteria. Championship clubs can assign up to four ESC players.
As for GBE points, these are allocated by the FA and determine whether a non-UK player is eligible to move to a UK club. The criteria include how many league minutes they have played, whether they have any international appearances and the quality of the league they have played in.
It looks as though, because of Aouchiche’s lack of game time for Le Bris’ side this season, he is now ineligible to move to Portsmouth due to his inability to rack up enough GBE points and that Pompey have no remaining ESC places.
Because of this, unless Aouchiche makes a move abroad, it appears likely that he may now stay on Wearside after the January transfer window closes.