Lamine Kone (right) mulling over move to Stadium of Light

Sam Allardyce is awaiting an answer from Lorient's Lamine Kone after Sunderland's on-off pursuit of the defender took a fresh twist.

The Sunderland boss has twice ended his interest in the 26-year Ivorian this month, the club initially cooling on a £5m deal before negotiations broke down after a loan move had been proposed.

However, the transfer has been resurrected after Lorient vice-president Alex Hayes confirmed the club had received a bid they "couldn't refuse".

Hayes told Ouest France: "Sunderland have come back with a firm offer that we couldn't refuse. The ball is therefore in Lamine Kone's camp. He has to make his decision in the coming hours."

Allardyce has signalled his intention to bring in another defender and an attacking player before the end of the transfer window having already signed Jan Kirchhoff, Dame N'Doye and Steve Harper.

Mathieu Debuchy (centre) a target for Sporting Lisbon

Sunderland are also monitoring full-back Mathieu Debuchy's situation at Arsenal as he looks for regular club football ahead of this summer's Euro 2016 finals, although they face a battle with fellow Premier League strugglers Aston Villa if they are to strike a loan deal.

A successful swoop for Kone could see Uruguayan defender Sebastian Coates leave Wearside with the former Liverpool player understood to be the subject of talks with Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon.