Coach Steve Bruce is still interested in bringing John Mensah back to Sunderland – but only if the deal is right.
There were claims this week that any prospective move was dead in the water after the Black Cats said they would only agree a "pay as you play" deal.
The implication was that Mensah would not agree to rejoin Sunderland if he would miss out financially should he be injured at any time.
But Sunderland will continue to work discreetly on a deal which would see the Ghanain return to the Stadium of Light for a second season-long loan spell.
Last summer Sunderland agreed a move for Mensah which saw the Wearsiders pay his wages for the whole season.
Mensah, a Champions League player for one of France's top clubs, Lyon, and an international captain, did not come cheap.
But Sunderland were prepared to pay the money for a player they thought would take the Premier League by storm.
Mensah might have done that had he stayed fully fit for the duration, but in an injury-wrecked season he was involved in only 19 matches.
Now Sunderland would like to bring him back, but this time they want Lyon to pay his wages whenever he's unavailable through injury – Mensah would get paid regardless, just by different employers depending on his circumstances.
It's a sensible move by Sunderland, and would suit Mensah but as things stand Lyon are reluctant to accept the offer.
They would rather sell the centre-half, and if they do let the player go out on loan, they would like a deal similar to the one Sunderland agreed to last season.
Both clubs are playing their cards close to their chest, but a Mensah return to Wearside remains a genuine possibility.