Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson expressed an interest in the 20-year-old Frenchman earlier this season.

Howard Wilkinson, then in charge at the Stadium of Light, fought to keep the highly-rated centre-forward with Paris St Germain also keeping an eye on the situation.

But it looks as though the player who has made only 23 appearances for Sunderland since Peter Reid brought him om from Cannes in August 2001.

He last figured in the 3-1 home defeat by Middlesbrough on 22 February 22 but he was substituted at half-time.

"I don't know what is going to happen," he told the Journal. "I will just have to wait and see in the summer.

"I was flattered by all the interest that was shown in me as anybody would be, but there is nothing to report at the moment.

"I still have work to do with Sunderland. I want to help the club and until it is mathematically impossible for us to stay up I will not give up hope."