Sunderland manager David Moyes has insisted that wantaway defender Lamine Kone will not be leaving the club this summer.
Kone has publicly expressed his desire to leave the Stadium of Light amid reported interest from Everton, and last week turned down a new contract from the Black Cats.
The 27-year-old missed the weekend defeat to Middlesbrough with a back injury, but Moyes is expecting him to return to the club tomorrow.
"We expect Lamine to be back in for treatment tomorrow. He's still a Sunderland player and he will remain a Sunderland player," he told reporters.
"We need to make improvements, get players in and there's a lot of work I need to do with the players. I'd like to get a few in if we can. There are only eight days to go and we're working very hard."
Sunderland have been linked with a move for Barnsley's Alfie Mawson should Kone leave the club.
