Sunderland revive interest in Lorient defender Lamine Kone

Sunderland have revived their interest in Lamine Kone and talks are continuing with his club Lorient, according to Sky sources.

The Ivorian defender spent time on Wearside last week before returning to France, with the deal reportedly falling through after a fee of £5m had been agreed with the French club. 

Lorient were then critical of the way Sunderland had conducted themselves.

"It's quite outrageous," vice-president Alex Hayes told French paper Le Telegramme.

"We gave Sunderland our consent last Tuesday, Lamine left the next day to have contract talks, but the player warned us there were problems in negotiating his contract.

"Because of the holidays it dragged out until Monday. They tried to change the pre-agreed deal. Lamine called me to ask if he could return to Lorient and I told him with great pleasure."

But Sky Sports News HQ understands Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce remains interested in bringing the defender to the Stadium of Light, despite the signing of Jan Kirchhoff from Bayern Munich last week.