WAHBI KHAZRI is close to completing a season-long loan move to French club Rennes.

The Sunderland midfielder is due to undergo a medical at Rennes' training ground later today after the terms of his temporary return to Ligue 1 were agreed despite competing interest from Toulouse.

Sunderland had been keen to sell Khazri permanently this summer, with the winger having publicly expressed a desire to move on in the wake of last season's relegation.

However, with an acceptable permanent offer looking increasingly unlikely, Sunderland officials have agreed to take the loan option in order to remove Khazri's wages from the books, with Rennes understood to be willing to pay the whole of his wages for the next 12 months.

Simon Grayson was understandably reluctant to keep a player who had been so public about his desire to leave Wearside, and a loan move is seen as the best available option for all parties.

With Khazri's imminent departure set to free up some much-needed room on the wage bill, the Black Cats are increasingly confident of being able to sign a forward before the transfer window closes at 11pm tomorrow.

The club are pursuing a number of options, both at home and abroad, and are considering both permanent and loan options.

Aston Villa's Ross McCormack remains a leading target if an acceptable financial agreement can be struck, while Sunderland have also made a number of inquiries about Jordan Hugill despite Preston's insistence that they will not be selling the Teessider.