Lamine Kone is on the verge of completing a move to Sunderland.

French club Lorient have confirmed they have accepted an offer from the Black Cats for the central defender which has been reported in the region of £5million.

27-year-old French-born Ivory Coast international Kone is set to become Sam Allardyce's first January signing as he strives to strengthen the squad he inherited from Dick Advocaat.

Lorient vice president Alex Hayes confirmed the imminent transfer to ouest-france.fr: "We have received an offer that we have accepted.

"It is now up to Lamine to find an agreement with Sunderland and to pass the medical before the transfer can be made official."