French clubs are pushing to prise Stephane Sessegnon from Sunderland.
The People says Sessegnon, whose wife and five children are still based in France, has found it difficult to settle on Wearside.
And this has alerted Marseille and his former club Paris St-Germain.
But Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill insists both he and owner Ellis Short are keen to strengthen the Black Cats squad in the summer.