Wednesday 10 February 2016 11:47, UK
Sunderland midfielder Yann M'Vila has indicated his willingness to seal a permanent move to Wearside - but only for Premier League football next season.
The 25-year-old France international has been one of the successes of a difficult campaign after making a season-long loan move to the Stadium of Light from Russian club Rubin Kazan, and the Black Cats have an option to sign him outright in the summer.
His form has alerted a series of other potential suitors, although Sunderland appear to be at the head of the queue - provided they retain their top-flight status.
M'Vila, whose representatives are already in talks with his parent club over his existing contract, told the Sunderland Echo: "It's important for me to sort out the contract issue with Rubin Kazan, but I have always said that my objective is to play in the Premier League.
"I want to stay here and play in the Premier League with Sunderland. Hopefully we will stay up and they will make me an offer, and then we can get around the table and talk and hopefully we can continue the adventure."
M'Vila's contract at Rubin will still have around six months to run at the end of the English season, although he does not want to return to Russia and is hoping his camp can negotiate his exit.
He said: "At the moment, I am speaking with a lawyer. I think my contract with Rubin Kazan runs until December 2016, so there is still six months to run from the end of the season.
"I don't really want to go back there and I don't really think they want me back, so we are trying to find a way of terminating that deal so I can be a free agent, and then I will be in a better position to discuss future offers."
