Mensah spent an injury-interrupted season on loan at the English Premiership side and won the admiration of Steve Bruce, despite his frequent visits to the treatment room.
Sunderland have also just signed Titus Bramble from Wigan as Bruce looks for cover in central defence, which could suggest preparation for life without the deputy Ghana captain.
But it was concerns about his fitness that has meant he could only be offered a pay-as-you-play deal, sources close to the player told KickOffGhana.com.
KickOffGhana.com has learnt he is also highly unlikely to return to his former club Olympique Lyon.
The player is on a charity project in Ghana, travelling to the deprived northern part of the country and Obuase where he started his football career.
He is supremely confident he will find a new club after he played a big part in Ghana’s quarterfinal finish at the World Cup, appearing in four of the five games, shattering the myths about his fitness in the process.
