The Sunderland defender was heavily linked with a move to Merseyside across the summer.
Sunderland’s Lamine Kone in action with West Bromwich Albion’s Salomon Rondon
Sunderland defender Lamine Kone has admitted to FootMercato that he was disappointed not to complete a move to Everton.
The Black Cats star was the topic of speculation across the summer transfer window as new manager Ronald Koeman tried desperately to bring him to Goodison Park.
Sunderland resisted, though, with their own new boss David Moyes working hard to keep him at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland’s Lamine Kone in action with Everton’s Romelu Lukaku
In the end, Kone agreed on a new deal in the North East when the transfer window closed but he admits at the time he was disappointed not to be heading to Merseyside.
“It was a good opportunity for me to join this club, Everton. They were interested in me and approached my representatives,” he told FootMercato.
“But David Moyes and Sunderland were counting on me. The offers were rejected by the club. It is true that at the time, I was disappointed. Maybe it was not my time.”
Sunderland’s Lamine Kone celebrates with team-mates after scoring their first goal
Kone has also admitted his shock at the price that Everton were willing to pay for his services this summer.
The Blues bid up to £18 million for him at one point, which was rejected by Sunderland despite it representing a vast profit on the fee they paid to sign him last January.
In truth it was a bid that was slightly surprising to many and Kone has admitted he does not think he is worth such a fee but was impressed nonetheless.
“I expected less, amounting to perhaps €8m (£6.8m), €10m (£9m) or even €12m (£10m). Double the price paid by Sunderland to buy me from Lorient,” he added.
“I did not think I was going to be worth as much, more than €20m (£18m). The amounts were impressive.”
Lamine Kone scores the second goal for Sunderland
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