Mensah gets new Black Cats deal

John Mensah, Black Stars

By: Kofi Owusu Aduonum
http://ghanaian-chronicle.com/sports/football/mensah-gets-new-black-cats-deal/attachment/johnmensah/

John Mensah, Black Stars
SUNDERLAND have won the battle to bring John Mensah back to the Stadium of Light. French club Lyon will accept a similar deal to last season's year-long loan for the Ghanaian centre-back.

Sunderland paid all Mensah's wages last season, but they are understood to have negotiated improved terms for the popular defender's return The move for Mensah could be rubber-stamped this week, giving Steve Bruce's central defensive options for the 2010/11 season a much more impressive look.

Lyon had hoped they'd be able to sell on their injury-prone defender who steered his country into the last eight of the World Cup. Europe's top clubs, though, know all about the African's injury record and none came calling.

One German club inquired about such a loan, giving the French club hope of a major financial saving. But Mensah has been desperate to return to the Stadium of Light and has pushed hard to come back.

He loved his time at the club last season, his family settled well in England and he enjoyed working under the management of Steve Bruce. He failed to report back to training at the Stade Gerland last Thursday, and Lyon manager Claude Puel said: “When he returns, he will train with the Pro 2 squad.”

The punishment of training with the reserve squad now looks as though it will not be necessary with Lyon and Sunderland set to agree a second season-long loan deal.