SUNDERLAND will have to rely on FIFA to get out of signing South American winger Ricky Alvarez after a failure to reach an agreement with Inter Milan.

The Black Cats’ relationship with Italian big guns Inter has been significantly soured after Inter insisted that Alvarez must complete a permanent move following the end of his season-long loan.

But the situation now looks set for the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with Sunderland refusing to accept the Milan club’s decision not to have him back at the San Siro and FIFA have been asked to advise.

Alvarez has returned to Italy but faces an uncertain summer given there is still a chance he will have to head back to Wearside if arbitration rules that way.

However, Sunderland are claiming a breach of contract because Inter allegedly would not grant permission for the Argentine to have surgery when it was required.

The 27-year-old has been troubled with injury all season and has not played since Gus Poyet’s last game in charge on March 14. He has only made five Premier League starts for the club, but Inter are adamant a permanent £7.5m transfer was agreed regardless.

But sources close to Sunderland strongly feel they have a case to get out of signing him because Inter did not allow for his injury to be properly treated, so feel Inter reneged on the agreement set out last summer.

The situation is hardly ideal for the player and both clubs after a disappointing season in the Premier League.

Sunderland’s head coach Dick Advocaat has not been able to call on Alvarez once so is making plans for next season without the winger, although arbitration could soon change that.

The distraction is being dealt with but it should not affect Advocaat’s rebuilding plans either way. Clearly he would rather spend the £7.5m on another winger, but owner Ellis Short is allowing him to press ahead with his recruitment regardless.

Sporting director Lee Congerton has had discussions with numerous clubs over transfer targets which have been agreed with Advocaat and a new right-back is high in the thinking after allowing Anthony Reveillere to leave.

Santiago Vergini has operated that role, but there is a desire to have an extra option to compete with Billy Jones for the starting spot and an attack-minded defender is what they are looking at.

Arsenal’s Carl Jenkinson and Leeds United’s Sam Byram are the two at the top of their wish-list at this stage.

Byram can play anywhere down the right and Sunderland have been told that a verbal offer of around £4.5m would not be enough for the 21-year-old from their Elland Road counterparts. Leeds would prefer to keep him, but know Premier League interest could lead to a nice little cash windfall.

Sunderland will have to pay a £2m loan fee for Jenkinson and that has not put them off while West Ham are unwilling to pay it following the arrival of Slaven Bilic as boss.

The Hammers would prefer to have signed him permanently following a successful loan at Upton Park but Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has insisted he wants the player to head out on loan again rather than on a full-time basis.