Sunderland owner Stewart Donald has given an update on the future of defender Lamine Kone.
Speaking to the Roker Report Podcast via a report by the Sunderland Echo, Donald has said he would be very surprised to see Kone back in a Sunderland shirt, with the defender spending this season out on loan with French club Strasbourg.
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"The club he's at have got an option which they can exercise if they want to keep him for a fee, we believe that is likely," said Donald.
"If that doesn't happen based on what we're being told and how we feel, I think he'll find another club, I'd be amazed if you see Lamine back here in a Sunderland shirt."
Kone has been with Sunderland since 2016 when he made a big money move from Lorient, and he signed a new five-year contract with the club under David Moyes, only to fall out of favour and move away from the club following their relegation from the Premier League into the Championship.
The big defender made his move away from the club only at the beginning of this season, and Donald will hope he can secure some sort of fee for the defender in the summer when he eventually does move on.
The Verdict
It's never really worked out this one for Kone in all honesty.
It's good that Donald sees his future as being resolved in an orderly fashion too, and it's clear the Sunderland owner has his house in order.
Sometimes things just don't work out for certain players with certain clubs, and I think this is definitely the case with Kone and Sunderland.