Sunderland winger Tobias Hysen could be heading back to Sweden.
Manager Roy Keane has confirmed the Black Cats are in talks with an unnamed Swedish club – reportedly Gothenburg – over the 25-year-old, son of former Liverpool defender Glen, who missed the pre-season trip to Portugal earlier this week.
Keane told the club’s website, www.safc.com: “We are in negotiations with a club about Toby regarding him going back to Sweden. It was best to get him to stay behind.
“I spoke with him a couple of weeks ago when he first came back. He spoke about missing home, saying that his girlfriend is struggling to settle.
“I have no problem with it. We just wanted to take the players [to Portugal] who we think will be with us at the start of the season.
“I have no problem with Toby. He’s a good lad and a good pro. It is difficult sometimes when you move to a new country.”
Hysen, a £1.7million signing from Djurgarden in August last year, has made 27 appearances for the club and has two years left on his contract.
However, he came to national prominence last season as one of a trio of players who were left behind by Keane after they turned up late for the team bus.