Portsmouth weigh up late transfer move for Sunderland AFC attacker | OneFootball

John Mousinho is looking to make some last-minute additions to bolster his attack.

Portsmouth are weighing up an approach for Sunderland's attacking midfielder Adil Aouchiche.

That's according to a report from The News on 30 January, as John Mousinho looks to make some last-minute additions to bolster his attacking options.

Pompey are just about keeping their necks above water in their first season back in the Championship, as they find themselves two points above 22nd-placed Derby County heading into a tough matchday 30 clash at home to Burnley this weekend.

With time running out before the transfer window slams shut on 3 February, teams at both ends of the table will be doing all they can to make those final additions that they hope will have made all the difference come May.

Portsmouth circling Sunderland's Adil Aouchiche

As detailed in The News' report, Portsmouth are keen on securing the signature of the Sunderland forward before the deadline, with Mousinho looking to strengthen his limited attacking arsenal.

It's understood that the 22-year-old former Paris Saint Germain youngster is a realistic target for a loan move, with the Black Cats appearing set to secure him regular first-team football for the remainder of the season.

A former France youth international, Aouchiche has found minutes hard to come by at the Stadium of Light so far this term, having made just eight Championship appearances ahead of Sunderland's Tees-Wear derby clash with Middlesbrough on Monday night.

His last senior appearance was in the FA Cup Third Round on 11 January, in which he played 120 minutes and picked up an assist in a 2-1 loss to Stoke City. He did, however, start against Portsmouth in the Black Cats' 1-0 win on 5 January, before being replaced with 10 minutes to go.

Adil Aouchiche could provide Portsmouth with shrewd versatile attacking option

Mousinho is looking to add some much-needed depth to his attack this winter, with limited options to pick from out wide and through the middle due to a combination of injuries, as well as certain players not quite producing the goods.

Aouchiche would surely be a welcome addition to Pompey's squad in that regard, as the Frenchman is capable of playing out on the left flank, whilst also being comfortable operating as a number 10 or in a centre-forward role.

With Christian Saydee offering little competition for starman Callum Lang in the central attacking-midfield spot, Aouchiche could provide the 26-year-old with a quality piece of healthy competition, as well as offering an upgrade in terms of squad depth.

The same could be said for Josh Murphy on the left wing, with 20-year-old Abdoulaye Kamara struggling to make an impact following his move from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.

Now that Thomas Waddingham has signed, competing with him and Colby Bishop for minutes in the centre-forward department would seem unlikely, so perhaps Mousinho does indeed see Aouchiche as competing for a role in one of the other two positions mentioned.

If he is to become a Portsmouth player, he would surely arrive hungry to impress both the Fratton Park and Stadium of Light hierarchy, as he looks to prove himself as a good Championship player.