Lamine Kone will report for training with Sunderland on Wednesday amid fevered speculation over his future.
Kone's agent, Mark McKay has confirmed the 27-year-old, who was on Merseyside with a view to completing an £18 million move to Everton after failing to receive a new contract offer he was expecting, will re-join his teammates on Wearside following a scheduled day off.
McKay said: "Lamine Kone will be at training with Sunderland tomorrow and is available, if selected, for Sunderland's game with Manchester City [on Saturday]. However, he still awaits the offer of the new contract."
Everton sold John Stones to Manchester City in a British record £47.5m transfer for a defender on Tuesday, and have reportedly agreed a fee with Swansea for Ashley Williams.
However, they have been in touch with the Black Cats over Kone and are aware what they would have to pay to land the Ivory Coast international, but there is no formal deal in place.
The Paris-born defender has been a major hit on Wearside since his £6m switch from French club Lorient in January, playing a key role in Sam Allardyce's rescue mission as Sunderland managed to stave off relegation from the Premier League for a fourth successive season.
PA Sport reported discussions took place over an improved contract with Kone happy at the club, but a new deal has subsequently failed to materialise and with Allardyce having now departed to take up the England job and been replaced by David Moyes, the situation remains unresolved.
Everton had taken advantage of that uncertainty by making their interest known, but they have as yet not pushed home their interest an it is understood several other clubs, alerted to the player's possible availability, are now monitoring his situation closely.
Sunderland fans are desperate for him to stay despite the £8m capture of Chelsea's Papy Djilobodji and it remains to be seen whether or not Sunderland can -- or want to -- broker a deal to keep him.
Moyes is unlikely to sanction any sale, even for a huge profit, until a replacement has been signed, and the Black Cats were keeping their own counsel on Tuesday evening on reports that they have agreed a £5.5m joint fee with the Scot's former employers Manchester United for youngsters Paddy McNair and Donald Love.