Sunderland are expected to sign Yann M'Vila as Rubin Kazan want to offload the midfielder from their wage bill, a source close to the player has claimed.

The Black Cats had M'Vila on loan from the Russian club last season and he made a positive impression at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland avoided relegation from the Premier League.
 



New Rubin Kazan coach Javi Gracia is willing to do without M'Vila, while the club themselves want to shed his high salary from their wage bill.

A source close to the player talked up the possibility of the switch taking place and told Russian daily Izvestia: "Sunderland are very interested in getting Yann M'Vila.
 


"Rubin do not intend to keep him, but expect to gain from the sale at least some money", the source continued.

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"In turn, the English club would like to get M'Vila under the status of a free agent. It is because of these differences that the departure of the French midfielder has been delayed.

"However, most likely Kazan will still meet [in the middle] with Sunderland in order to shed him from their wage bill.

"M'Vila's contract expires in six months and he has high wages."

Rubin Kazan snapped M'Vila up from French outfit Rennes in 2013, but he has spent time away from the Russian side on loan at Inter and Sunderland.

Now the 26-year-old looks poised to make a permanent exit from Rubin Kazan, with Sunderland his likely destination, the switch appearing not to have been derailed by the Black Cats' change of manager.