Sunderland reportedly have an agreement in place for the signing of Lorient's central defender Lamine Kone.
The 27-year-old, who has made over 100 league appearances for Lorient, will be out of contract at his current club at the end of the current season.
A number of clubs have been linked with a move for the central defender, but according to L'Equipe, it is Sunderland that have won the race.
Kone was born in Paris and represented France at youth level, including the Under-20 side, but he made his full debut for Ivory Coast in 2014.
Sunderland currently sit 19th in the Premier League on 12 points having won just three of their 16 league games this season.
