Red-tape remains the sole reason why Olympique Lyonnais defender John Mensah is yet to join the ranks at Sunderland, and Black Cats boss Steve Bruce has further indicated that the 26-year-old Ghana international could be the club's last signing in the summer transfer window.

"It is still ongoing," Bruce told Sky Sports when referring to the hold-up in the Mensah coup. "He is a Ghanaian international, it's all Home Office, papers and passports all this sort of stuff.

"In principle the two clubs have agreed, the boy wants to come to us and to England so in that respect we are over that hurdle, but we have to make sure we dot the i's and cross the t's and we expect him obviously before the window closes that he can be part of us," Bruce explained.

When probed as to whether Mensah will be the last import, to a considerably bolstered squad, Bruce replied coyly, "Well you can never say never."

Before adding, "I would envisage what we have done is what we are looking at.

"Right down the spine of us now what we have brought in I would be very, very pleased."