Sunderland boss Gus Poyet admits they were blocked from signing Valencia midfielder Bruno Zuculini in the summer.

Manchester City signed Zuculini from Argentine outfit Racing Club and were willing to loan him to Sunderland, but rules introduced as part of the Financial Fair Play regulations meant that they were unable to allow him to join another Premier League club in the same transfer window.

"There are too many new rules," Poyet said.

"That has made the whole situation different.

"If a top team is able to buy a player and they can only loan him abroad - like Zuculini went to Valencia - then we lose out on that player."