Sunderland have agreed a fee with Lorient for Lamine Kone, according to the French club's Vice-President Alex Hayes.

Speaking in the French press, Hayes admitted that after the clubs had agreed a fee, it was now up to Kone to agree personal terms and undergo a medical with Sunderland.

We received an offer that was accepted. Al that remains is for Lamine to find an agreement with Sunderland and undergo a medical before the transfer can be made ​​official.

The 26-year-old has been a stand-out player for Lorient since he joined them from Chatearoux in 2010 and has regularly had scouts from the Premier League watching him in action, including Sam Allardyce who went to check on him personally in Lorient's clash against PSG in November.

With Younes Kaboul set to miss two months and John O'Shea struggling with injury, Kone's arrival would give a big boost to a defence that has conceded the most goals in the Premier League this season.

Meanwhile, Kone's current Lorient team-mate Lamine Gassama has reportedly refused an offer to join Sunderland. Gassama's contract with Lorient expires in the Summer but , according to L'Equipe, the right back has rejected the chance to join Sam Allardyce's side in the January transfer window.