Crystal Palace attempted to sign Everton’s Arouna Kone in January.
Everton’s Arouna Kone celebrates scoring
Crystal Palace boss Sam Allardyce will be keen to make considerable improvements to his squad this summer whether the Eagles stay up or not.
A strong run of form has seen Palace pull themselves six points clear of the Premier League relegation zone, and barring a surprise run of results between now and the end of the season, the Eagles will be playing top flight football again next season.
Allardyce will be looking to bring in reinforcements, and one of his recent transfer targets has been made available on a free transfer – Everton striker Arouna Kone.
Earlier this week, the Toffees confirmed that striker Kone, 33, will be leaving the club when his contract expires this summer, bringing an end to his four-year spell at Goodison Park.
Arouna Kone celebrates scoring for Everton
The Ivorian followed manager Roberto Martinez from Wigan to Everton in 2013, but will leave the club with a record of just ten goals in 60 games across four seasons in a Toffees shirt.
Kone has barely featured this season due to injury, and he almost left Everton in January, with Crystal Palace failing to seal a deadline day move to sign him, as reported by the Croydon Advertiser.
Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce
Now available for free, Kone could be seen as a viable option for Palace again, but in order to avoid another relegation battle next season, Allardyce needs better than Kone if he is to take Palace to the next level.
Another striker is needed, with Loic Remy set to return to Chelsea and Fraizer Campbell out of favour, but Kone – with advancing years, a poor goalscoring record and a questionable injury history – is not the answer as Palace search for a new striker to support Christian Benteke, even if he’s available for free.
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