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Dynamo Kiev president Ihor Surkis has "strongly denied" rumours of an imminent Sunderland move for forward Jeremain Lens.
The Dutchman was linked with the club this week, with Goal's Graeme Bailey quoting a "source close to Dynamo" as saying:
"The club do not want to lose him, but everyone knows he is going and it is just a matter of price, which is being talked through now."
However, a report in the Ukraine quotes Surkis as denying that report, and insisting that, whilst Lens IS currently absence from the club, it is for "family reasons" and he will return in the next few days.
27-year-old Lens is widely expect to leave Dynamo Kiev this summer having grown disillusioned in Eastern Eurpean football, and his previous connections with Dick Advocaat make him an easy player to link with Sunderland.
With the left-sided inverted forward position essentially lying empty at the club since Fabio Borini left to return to Liverpool, it would seem a logical move for Sunderland to make, especially given Advocaat is known to favour a more traditional 4-3-3 than the one he utilised towards the end of last season.
Doesn't look imminent, but certainly one to keep an eye on I think.