Sunderland have confirmed that Lamine Kone has left the club to join French top-flight side Strasbourg on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee.

The 30-year-old arrived on Wearside back in 2016 and initially did well as the side stayed up in the Premier League under Sam Allardyce.

However, he struggled a lot as his career with the Black Cats progressed and didn't endear himself to the fans when he asked to leave combined with those poor performances.

He played 24 times as they were relegated from the Championship before leaving for Strasbourg 12 months ago on loan.

And, after a successful time in France, which included helping his side win the Coupe de la Ligue, Sunderland announced on their official site that the move has been made permanent.

That will be very welcome news for the League One side who are looking to cut costs as they prepare for another season in the third-tier.

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Therefore, it could be a very busy summer for Jack Ross, with several more departures expected as they look to reduce the wage bill to a more manageable level.

The Verdict

This is great news for Sunderland as Kone will have been picking up a big salary, so even though the fee will be minimal, they're just glad to have see the player go.

The fans will feel the same too, with the Ivory Coast international one of those who played a big role in their demise.

It could be the start of a very interesting and busy few months for the club.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.