Roker Report understand that an offer was rejected on Friday from an unnamed club for want-away midfielder Didier Ndong due to the bid not meeting Sunderland’s valuation of their record signing.
The club had accepted an offer of around £6.6m earlier in the summer from Torino but excessive demands from both the player and his representatives caused the deal with the Serie A side to fall through.
The 24-year-old is desperate to leave the Stadium of Light and refused to report for pre-season training under Jack Ross, leaving the club no option but to discipline the player - and his fellow stay-away Papy Djilobodji.
Talking about the situation, Charlie Methven confirmed that the club would take action against the pair:
Papy Djilobodji and Didier Ndong were both due to return for pre-season training at Sunderland today but did not do so.
The club will therefore begin internal disciplinary proceedings against them, and will decide what measures to take in the circumstances.
Although the bid for the Gabonese international was rejected, it’s expected that the player will still be sold before the transfer window closes and the club are confident that interested parties will meet their valuation.
Ndong was signed by David Moyes in the summer of 2016 for a club record fee of £13.6m.