Former alleged Cardiff City target Younousse Sankhare has suddenly become available for free following a bizarre fallout with his club Bordeaux.
The Bluebirds were linked with a move for the central midfielder, who can also play on the left, during the summer, but a move never came to fruition after sources at Cardiff played down the level of any potential interest .
However, those close to the player in France have always been adamant that Cardiff's interest was real.
Sankhare was embroiled in a bitter dispute with Bordeaux after he missed a section of last season owing to complications with his beard implants.
It prompted reports that Sankhare, who boasts Paris Saint-Germain among the clubs for which he has played, was seeking pastures new and City, as well as Sheffield United, were credited with having an interest.
And now the player and the club have finally appear to have parted ways, meaning he is now a free agent.
The Bluebirds, of course, are now under a new manager in Neil Harris and whether the summer interest from Neil Warnock was concrete is still unconfirmed.
But if the club's hierarchy do maintain an interest they could now sign him for nothing after he parted ways with the Ligue 1 club.
It all became messy at Bordeaux for Sankhare, 30, with lawyers becoming involved in negotiations to thrash out an exit deal.
French outlet 20 Minutes claimed the player was suspended by the club "as a precaution", adding he was not able to access the club's training ground, car park or dressing room.
Sankhare was then called to the club offices, where he reportedly met with deputy chairman Frédéric Longuépée, a bailiff and a member of human resources, before being told that he was being suspended for a week.
It eventually rumbled on before a deal was struck for the player to be released and, given his wealth of experience at the top level in Ligue 1, he is likely to have many potential suitors.
The same French newspaper, 20 minutes, now report that a number of sides around Europe are interested in acquiring his services.
