Cash-strapped Sunderland expect to learn in March if they will have to pay £8million for a player they do not own.
The Black Cats have been at loggerheads with Inter Milan for more than a year over Argentina international Ricky Alvarez, who headed for the Stadium of Light on loan in August 2014 with a view to completing a permanent transfer which was to be triggered if they retained their Premier League status.
However, Alvarez's stay on Wearside was blighted by injury and despite fending off relegation under Dick Advocaat, they pulled the plug on the proposed deal, sparking a lengthy wrangle which resulted in a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing in Lausanne earlier this month.