Lorient president Loic Fery has revealed the French club rejected three offers from Sunderland for Didier Ndong - before finally accepting a fourth bid hours before the transfer deadline.
The midfielder moved to the Stadium of Light on the final day of the transfer window for an initial fee of £13.6m, although that may rise with bonuses.
Howeve, Lorient's president, Fery, has now revealed that he fought tooth and nail to keep the 22-year-old at the club.
"We rejected offers three times for the departure of Didier Ndong. €12m, €14m and then €16m," Fery told Ouest France.