TRANSFER ROUNDUP

One of our players has departed on loan for the Scottish Premier League, an incoming deal nears completion and we’ve put in a bid for a player at one of Spain’s top clubs, as well as more news surrounding our transfers in this roundup.

AOUCHICHE TO ABERDEEN

Adil Aouchiche, who joined Sunderland in September 2023 from Lorient, will spend next season out on loan at Aberdeen. The attacking midfielder has played 38 games for the Lads and has scored two goals and assisted four. Last season, he had a period out on loan at fellow Championship club Portsmouth, where he made 12 appearances and scored and assisted one apiece. His new club enjoyed a successful term last campaign, winning the Scottish Cup and qualifying for the play-off round of the Europa League as a result, meaning they are guaranteed at least Conference League football this season. Aberdeen may be willing to break their club record fee for an incoming player on the Frenchman, as they have an option to buy for £1.5 million.

TALBI MEDICAL

We have completed a deal for 20-year-old right winger Chemsdine Talbi for a reported fee of €18 million plus €5 million in add-ons on a five-year deal from Club Brugge. The Moroccan is due to complete his medical either today (Monday) or tomorrow at the latest. He will become our third most expensive signing ever, leapfrogging Noah Sadiki who we signed only a few days ago. Last season, he played 44 games, scoring seven and chipping in with seven assists, winning the Belgian Cup and playing (and scoring a brace in) the Champions League along the way.

GARCÍA BID

We have tabled a bid of €30 million for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo García and the deal would reportedly include a 25% sell on clause plus a €40 million buy-back clause. The 21-year-old has so far played 11 games for Real Madrid and contributed five goals and two assists, the vast majority of which (four goals and one assist) have come at the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup. For Real Madrid Castilla, their reserve team who play in the third tier, he scored 30 goals in 73 matches and he’s also been capped at an U18 and U19 level for Spain. He can also play on either side of the wing.

SUÁREZ INTEREST

Several clubs, including Sunderland, are interested in acquiring Almería centre forward Luis Suárez. The other clubs are Manchester United, Juventus, Liverpool, Atlético Madrid and Sporting CP. Reportedly, he is set to cost €25 million. He scored 31 goals in 43 appearances in the season just gone, as his side lost in the promotion play-offs, missing out on La Liga football. Previously, he has played top flight football with his current club, as well as Marseille and Granada. Overall, Luis has found the back of the net 26 times in 107 top tier games as well as playing in the Champions League and Europa League (scoring goals in the latter). Additionally, the attacker has been capped five times by Colombia and he can also operate out on the left wing.

BARD INTEREST

Another player we are after is left back Melvin Bard of Nice, alongside two other Premier League clubs. We have offered the player a four-year contract with the option of another year but no deal is in place yet. Bard has featured in 147 matches for Nice and has European experience in the Europa League and Conference League and helped his team qualify for the qualifiers of the Champions League by finishing fourth in Ligue 1 last season. Aged 24, he has represented France from every youth level between U17 and U21 as well as at the Olympics and can play as a left sided midfielder too.