Ghana defender John Mensah has rejected reports that a deal has been sealed for him to stay at Sunderland on loan.
The Lyon player, who spent last season on loan at the English side, was reported on Monday to have reached another loan deal with Sunderland.
But the Ghana deputy captain has rubbished the report saying he has no knowledge of a deal for him to stay at the Stadium of Light.
"My agent has not told me that a deal has been reached for me to stay Sunderland," Mensah told Ghanasoccernet.com exclusively.
"My agent has asked me to return to Lyon and I am preparing to leave for France, so I don't know of the report in the media on Monday.
"Until my club Lyon and agent tell me of any new deal I still remain a player of Lyon."
Meanwhile, an unnamed English side have opened talks with Lyon to sign Mensah as the quest to grab the defender gets keener.
French club Lyon will accept a similar deal to last season's year-long loan for the Ghanaian centre-back at Sunderland.
Sunderland paid all Mensah's wages last season, but they are understood to have negotiated improved terms for the popular defender's return.
According to the report in the UK media, the move for Mensah could be rubber-stamped this week, giving Steve Bruce's central defensive options for the 2010/11 season a much more impressive look.
But the defender, who steered his country into the last eight of the World Cup, says no deal has yet beeen reached.