Lamine Kone has been linked with Everton since the summer and Sunderland’s latest target could replace him in their starting XI.
Sunderland are interested in signing Anderlecht centre-back Kara Mbodji, Sport reports, but could this have repercussions for Everton’s pursuit of Lamine Kone?
The 27-year-old Senegalese international has spent the last four years in Belgium with Genk and Anderlecht, and he has been touted as a potential target for a Sunderland side whose chances of pulling off another act of Houdini-esque escapism seem to be disappearing by the week.
Saturday’s dismal 2-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion means they are winless in over a month in the Premier League while only Hull City and Swansea City have conceded more goals than the Black Cats’ 42.
Consequently, Sport reports that David Moyes has identified Mbodji as an upgrade on the blundering Papy Djilobodji and supposedly wantaway Lamine Kone, with Anderlecht ready to allow him to leave on loan in January with an option for a permanent exit by the summer.
And it is tempting to believe Sunderland are attempting to make a new defender their priority due to ongoing concerns about the future of Kone, who The Sun claim remains Everton’s primary target.
Ronald Koeman’s side have struggled at times defensively, with the waning Phil Jagielka dropped from the side in place of the erratic Ramiro Funes Mori. Therefore the physical, pacy Kone could prove an ideal addition.
On the flip side, a deal could also be a help rather than a hindrance to Sunderland’s survival hopes.
A huge fee received via the departure of Kone, who infamously drove down to Merseyside in the summer in a failed attempt to force through a move, could allow Moyes to reinvest in a squad ravaged by vulnerabilities.
Furthermore, Mbodji would likely be a like-for-like replacement for the former Lorient centre-back in Sunderland’s starting XI.
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