Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth receive transfer boost in pursuit of ‘brilliant’ Sunderland star

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Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth have eyed a Sunderland starlet this summer, and now a rival in the race has dropped out of the running for his signature.

Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth have been given the green light to pursue their interest in an in-demand Sunderland star.

Sunderland won the Championship play-off final against Sheffield United in May to send the Black Cats back to the Premier League at the expense of the Blades.

Following the promotion, League One and League Two sides have already been window shopping for some of Regis Le Bris’ fringe squad members.

As EFL Analysis exclusively revealed last week, EFL clubs want to sign Jenson Jones on loan from Sunderland this summer.

Now, both Blackburn and Pompey have been boosted in the pursuit of an in-demand Black Cats starlet, with a fellow rival in the transfer race making a decisive call in the saga.

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Hibernian drop out of race to sign Sunderland starlet Nectarios Triantis

In early July, reports emerged that Blackburn and Portsmouth were targeting Nectarios Triantis from Sunderland, after his breakout campaign on loan at Scottish Premier League side Hibernian.

Australian international Triantis impressed at Hibs, scoring three goals and notching six assists in 36 games, to play a pivotal role in his loan club’s third-placed finish behind Celtic and Rangers.

Triantis’ agent sent Sunderland a warning earlier this summer, outlining that the versatile midfielder will not be a “bit-part player” for the Black Cats next season.

Blackburn and Portsmouth faced competition from Bundesliga side St Pauli and his former loan club Hibs, for his signature this summer. But now, the Scottish top flight side have dropped out of the race.

The Daily Record report that: “Hibs have had to admit defeat in their fight to get Nectarios Triantis back.

“The Easter Road club has been informed that the Australian won’t be returning. He has big English Championship interest along with keen suitors from major European leagues and America.”

Now, the door is open for Rovers or Pompey to capitalise after the Triantis update and sign the 22-year-old, on the back of his outstanding season in Scotland.

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John Mousinho can continue Australian trend by signing Nectarios Triantis

Portsmouth survived in the second tier last season under the stewardship of John Mousinho in the club’s first season back in the Championship for 12 years.

Recently, Australia boss Tony Popovic credited Portsmouth for giving his countrymen a chance, with one commonality in Pompey’s transfer business being that the south coast club have several former A-League stars in their ranks.

Mousinho has four Australian internationals in his Pompey squad in Adrian Segecic, Jacob Farrell, Hayden Matthews, and Thomas Waddingham.

Popovic has also praised Pompey target Triantis, who has previously played for Australia’s youth sides.

As quoted by We Are Sunderland, Popovic said in January: “We have been watching him for months really, since October.

“His team has hit really good form. The last five games they have won four out of five.

“We have a few Aussies in that team and they are all contributing to the success they are having at the moment. Triantis is one of those.”

Triantis dropped out of Popovic’s Socceroos squad in June for the World Cup qualification rounds, amid the ongoing speculation regarding his future, and Popovic would likely love to see Pompey continue the Australian trend by signing Triantis this summer.