SUNDERLAND will focus their attention on their other attacking targets in the final hours of the transfer window after a reported u-turn from Alexandre Mendy, who has now decided to stay at Caen.

Mendy has spent the summer stressing his desire to move to the Stadium of Light and in an interview in France only a matter of days ago the striker said his "head was in Sunderland".

But it now appears that the 30-year-old has committed to staying with Caen this summer.

A fresh report from Ouest-France on Thursday morning claims Caen have convinced Mendy to stay and the striker will link up with the first team squad for training today ahead of being involved in his side's Ligue 2 game against Annecy on Friday night.

Sunderland had agreed a deal to sign Mendy earlier this summer but negotiations then stalled after Caen were taken over.

After their takeover had been confirmed, the new Kylian-Mbappe-led ownership group rejected a fresh Sunderland offer for Mendy and despite the striker's public pleas a breakthrough between the clubs was never reached.

Sunderland have always retained an interest in Mendy but have also turned to other targets in recent weeks, with a bid lodged for Leicester City's Tom Cannon and talks held with Red Bull Salzburg's Roko Simic. They're also understood to have been tracking some unnamed attacking targets.

Sunderland remain hopeful of signing two attackers ahead of Friday night's deadline, while the Black Cats also look likely to strengthen their midfield with the double capture of Milan Aleksic and Salis Abdul Samed.