RENNES are ready to pay Wahbi Khazri around £180,000 a month in a bid to prevent the Sunderland man from moving to St Etienne.

The two French clubs are going head-to-head to land the Black Cats forward and St Etienne had moved ahead for his signature. Rennes, where he spent time on loan last season, have made a fresh contract offer to him through his advisors.

While there has also been tentative interest from clubs in Turkey and Portugal, a return to France where he also used to play for Bordeaux is on the cards.

While Khazri is believed to be satisfied with the offers on the table from Rennes and St Etienne, given he reputedly earns £37,000-a-week on Wearside, there is still some negotiating to be done with Sunderland.

The Black Cats hope Khazri’s performances in the World Cup, where he was one of Tunisia’s best players, will help them bring in a sizeable transfer fee.

Sunderland believe Khazri’s valuation is still around the £9m that was paid to Bordeaux for him in January 2016. Earlier in the summer Khazri had his request for a free transfer dismissed and there have been offers in the region of £7.5m tabled.

The players Jack Ross wants to work with have been in Portugal this week for a training camp and Khazri, given a two-week extended break because of the World Cup, has not been involved.

Other wantaway players such as Papy Djilobodji and Didier Ndong have not been there after failing to turn up for pre-season, while Lamine Kone was also left behind even though he would have been happy to train with the squad.

Ross is trying to change the face of the squad and wants hungry players keen to impress. As well as the six new signings he has brought in, the former St Mirren boss was keen to take nine academy players with him to Portugal.

That in itself is an indication he will be willing to give youth a chance if they deserve it and Sunderland have promising players coming through.

Max Stryjek was among the keepers to travel, while Elliot Embleton, Bali Mumba and Ethan Robson joined him on the plane with the first team. Denver Hume, Luke Molyneux, Andrew Nelson, Josh Maja and Joel Asoro – who have all had first team experience – have also tried to impress Ross.