French giants Lyon are considering a move for Sunderland midfielder Didier Ndong, reports L’Equipe.

The 23-year-old only moved to the Stadium of Light last summer following an 18-month spell at Ligue 1 outfit Lorient, in which time he bagged two goals in 54 appearances for the club to help them twice avoid the drop in the French top-flight.

However, the Gabon international was unable to inspire the Black Cats to Premier League safety last term, with Ndong appearing in 31 of their 38 league games, although couldn’t prevent David Moyes’ side from finishing bottom of the table and a hefty 16 points adrift of safety.

And, despite starting all three of their Championship clashes this time round, it appears that the 23-year-old’s short time in the North East could be coming to an end this summer, as recent reports from France suggest that Lyon are monitoring Ndong’s progress ahead of a possible move.

The Ligue 1 giants finished fourth in the top-flight last season and subsequently qualified for this term’s Europa League group stages, which brings about the need for reinforcements to compete on both a domestic and European level.

And it appears that Sunderland’s Ndong is one of several names on their shortlist, which is believed to be headed by Celta Vigo midfielder Pape Cheikh Diop, who is also attracting interest from Premier League outfit Tottenham.

Thus, Lyon’s pursuit of Diop looks set to have a key bearing on whether they go in for Ndong before the August 31 deadline.

The Verdict: Didier Ndong showed glimpses of promise for Sunderland in the Premier League last season, but ultimately couldn’t help the side avoid the drop.

However, new manager Simon Grayson has started him in all three of their Championship games this time round, and the 23-year-old has proved his worth with influential displays in the heart of the Black Cats midfield, so much so that it’d be a loss if he were to move to Lyon this month.

Ultimately though, it appears that any possible move for Ndong is dependent on whether they strike a deal for Celta Vigo’s Pape Cheikh Diop.

If the French side do, they are unlikely to pursue their interest in the Sunderland man, but if they are unable to get a deal done, they may well ramp up their interest in the 23-year-old.

Sunderland fans… what do you make of the news? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!