Strasbourg will not take up the option to sign Lamine Kone permanently, according to a report in France.
The Ivory Coast centre-back is on loan at the French Ligue 1 club and has impressed this season, making 27 appearances in total and helping the club win the Coupe de la Ligue, meaning they qualify for the Europa League next season.
The deal which took Kone to France included an option for them to sign the 30-year-old permanently, with his Sunderland career seemingly over. Before his departure he was completely ostracised from Jack Ross' first team training sessions after making his feelings clear on wanting to leave the club.
However, the reputable L'Equipe claim that Kone will be forced to return to Wearside once again in the summer, with Strasbourg choosing not to exercise the option to sign him permanently.
It means Kone, contracted at Sunderland until 2021, may have to return to the club for the start of pre-season training in the summer, regardless of if he wants to or not.
That said, the suggestion is that this could be just a bargaining tactic from Strasbourg.
The initial loan deal included an agreed future fee to be paid should they wish to sign him permanently, but Strasbourg could be trying their luck, knowing Sunderland are unlikely to want to see the defender - and his big wages - return in the summer.
But it's a dangerous game Strasbourg are playing. Sunderland have proven tough negotiators under the new ownership as they look to re-establish the Black Cats' reputation. Given Kone's form this season, it's quite likely that a few other teams would watch with interest at the situation and his future at Strasbourg.
