SUNDERLAND boss Simon Grayson revealed how Max Gradel had turned down a move to Wearside due to family reasons.

Gradel on Wednesday put the finishing touches to a season-long loan switch to Toulouse having previously held talks with the Black Cats.

And Grayson admitted he was disappointed to fail in his pursuit of the pacy Ivorian.

He told the Northern Echo: “We spoke to Max but he eventually decided to go to France.

“We had agreed something with Bournemouth and he is a good player who I wanted to bring to the club – it shows you where we are with the players we are looking at.

“That would have been a big signing for us but he just felt his family wanted to go back to France.

“That was disappointing but it is part and parcel of football.”

Gradel joined Cherries in a £7m move from Saint-Etienne in August 2015 but saw his first season wrecked by a serious knee injury which kept him out for six months.

He was restricted to 11 substitute appearances in the Premier League last term, fuelling speculation he could be set to depart during the current transfer window.

The 29-year-old is contracted to the club until 2020.