Swindon Town defender Williams Kokolo is reportedly on the verge of a move to Ligue 2 outfit Stade Lavallois on a long-term deal.

Kokolo signed for Swindon in November last year and was an ever-present in the team from that point, leading to Town exercising their optional extension in his contract to keep him with the side for the coming season.

However, Theo Sivazlian of Le Figaro has reported and sources have confirmed to The Adver that the French defender is set to return to his homeland to join Stade Lavallois on a long-term deal, subject to a medical. The Tango finished seventh in the French second tier last season, just outside the playoff places.

Marcus Bignot was tight-lipped about any potential departure when asked about it following Town’s 2-0 friendly win over Hungerford Town on Tuesday, a match in which Kokolo did not feature having played in their pre-season opener against Swindon Supermarine on Saturday.

He joked: “I wish he would take me with him because if that is the case, why hasn’t he invited me? I will have to give him a call and see what is going on there.

“[Can you say anything definitive?] No. If that is the case then I need to find out why I haven’t been invited.”

Kokolo impressed during the second half of Swindon’s 4-1 victory over Supermarine and Mark Kennedy named him as a player he was pleased to have in his squad as part of a strong group of wide players, but now he looks set for the exit door.

Kennedy said ahead of the opening friendly: “The way that I see the game, we want to defend with five and attack with five and I think that the defenders should be the three central ones perhaps if you are playing with two sitters.

“Where we want to score goals, we need wide players who can get to the by-line, put crosses in, and have the ability to take people on.

“I wanted my wide players to be attacking players first before being defensive, as opposed to an old-school defender who can get forward.

“We were really lucky as Ros[aire Longelo] we were really keen on at Lincoln [City] and Tunmise [Sobowale] did really well last year and played a lot of football in League One.

“Williams we know has been outstanding and young Joel [McGregor] has been impressive, so we have four good wing-backs there.”