League One Sunderland are desperate to sell Lamine Kone with Super Lig Trabzonspor reportedly keen, but they must reduce his price-tag.
Who would have thought that Lamine Kone would still be a Sunderland player heading into August? Despite seemingly attempting to seal a move away from Wearside since the summer of 2016, that is the situation right now.
The Black Cats have been desperate to cash in on the 29-year-old centre-back, who is one of the club’s highest earners heading into the start of the League One season.
But it seems that their attempts to recoup the £6 million they paid Lorient for Kone in January 2016 is pricing potential suitors out of a move for the Ivory Coast international.
Reports from Turkish publication 61Saat are claiming that Trabzonspor are interested in Kone, although Sunderland’s £6 million price-tag means they cannot afford him on their tight budget.
It is reported that Trabzonspor have held talks with Kone and encouraged him to leave Wearside for the Turkish Super Lig. But, unless Sunderland reduce his asking price between now and the end of the transfer window, Kone could be forced to stay and play a part in the Black Cats’ attempts to escape League One.
Also at the Stadium of Light are Didier N’Dong and Papy Djilibodji who, despite being linked with moves away all summer, are still part of Jack Ross’s squad.
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