Sunderland manager David Moyes has reportedly told defender Lamine Kone to stay away from the club until the transfer window closes.
The 27-year-old has snubbed the offer of a new contract at the Stadium of Light and instead wants to join Everton in an £18m deal.
Kone pulled out of Sunderland's squad to face Middlesbrough on Sunday afternoon due to a back injury which, according to The Sun, led to Moyes sending the 27-year-old into temporary exile.
Sunderland could turn to Barnsley's Alfie Mawson to replace Kone should the centre-back indeed succeed in pushing through a move.
