Why Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth could miss out on signing £1m Sunderland talent

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EFL Analysis can exclusively reveal that Championship duo Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth could miss out on signing an in-demand Sunderland talent.

Sunderland won the Championship play-off final 2-1 in May against Sheffield United on a historic afternoon under the Wembley arch for the Black Cats.

Despite earning promotion to the Premier League, Sunderland have still been linked with EFL moves, both in terms of incomings to the Stadium of Light as well as outgoings.

Earlier in the window, EFL Analysis exclusively revealed that young Black Cats talent Jenson Jones is wanted by EFL clubs for a loan move after he impressed under Regis Le Bris in pre-season.

Also, we have revealed that League One and League Two clubs want Trey Ogunsuyi on loan, who bagged a hat-trick against Spurs under-23s this week.

Furthermore, EFL Analysis can also reveal why Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth could miss out on a Sunderland star linked with a move throughout the summer.

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Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth could miss out on Nectarios Triantis

Earlier in the summer, reports surfaced that Blackburn and Portsmouth wanted Nectarios Triantis from Sunderland following his outstanding campaign on loan at Scottish Premier League side Hibernian.

In his second loan stint at Hibs, versatile midfielder Triantis scored three goals and notched six assists in 36 outings under David Gray to help his loan outfit to a third-place finish in the SPL behind Celtic and Rangers.

Following the interest from Rovers and Pompey, reports emerged that Derby County had a £1.2m bid rejected for Triantis, but Rams boss John Eustace denied Derby’s interest in the Sunderland midfielder.

The 22-year-old’s footballing future remains uncertain after the several marquee additions to Le Bris’ Sunderland midfield, including the likes of Arsenal legend Granit Xhaka and ex-Strasbourg starlet Habib Diarra.

Now, EFL Analysis can exclusively reveal, with information from our Chief Football correspondent Graeme Bailey, that Blackburn and Portsmouth could miss out on signing Triantis due to his former club Hibs.

Bailey said: “I’ve heard lots of talk that Triantis might even go back to Hibernian, and there’s also MLS interest.

“It’s a World Cup year. Such a big one for him that he has to get this move right. I do wonder if he goes back to Hibs, I’ll be honest, just to have that one good, solid year.

“There is Championship interest, but is he going to start for these clubs? I think he’s got to be realistic.

“I’m not sure he’s a Championship starter. It depends; if you’re talking Pompey, Blackburn, he probably is to be fair.

“Obviously Blackburn have just done a deal for Lewis Miller (Triantis’ former Hibs teammate). So there is that link there as well. Could he help? I wouldn’t rule Blackburn out.

“I think again it’s a big year for him, being a World Cup year, and he needs to be playing to get in the squad.”

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What Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has said about Nectarios Triantis

Triantis’ return to the Stadium of Light following his time at Hibs has coincided with Sunderland spending in the region of £150m on transfers this summer.

With the midfielder already being a fringe player in the eyes of Le Bris before last season, Triantis would find minutes extremely hard to come by in the Black Cats’ Premier League campaign.

Last month, after he took no part in Sunderland’s 3-0 pre-season friendly defeat to Hearts, Le Bris offered a transfer update on Triantis.

As quoted by the Hibs Observer, Le Bris said: “Not yet (when asked if a decision had been made on the player’s future).

“We don’t know, we will see. We are trying to find the right balance for the squad, so we will see if it is possible to move with him or not.”

Amid his links with a return to Hibs, a separate report from the Edinburgh Evening News indicated that Sunderland have placed a £1m price tag on the midfielder, who has recently switched his international allegiance from Australian to Greek.

Given his impressive performances last season and the low reported transfer outlay of £1m required for his services, both Blackburn and Portsmouth may live to regret not taking a chance on Triantis.