Crystal Palace are reportedly set to make a move for Sunderland’s Lamine Kone.
Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce
According to The Mirror, Crystal Palace will battle West Ham United for the signature of Sunderland defender Lamine Kone this summer.
Kone, 28, joined Sunderland from French side Lorient in January 2016, and played a key role in the club’s remarkable run to Premier League survival at the end of last season.
The centre back’s exploits last term did attract interest over the summer, with Everton keen to land him (Sky Sports), but Kone ended up signing a new five-year contract in September.
This season, Kone hasn’t impressed quite so much in a Sunderland defence that has leaked 58 goals in the Premier League – but that isn’t stopping interest in his signature.
Sunderland’s Lamine Kone warms up
The Mirror report that West Ham United remain keen on bringing Kone to the London Stadium this summer, but Crystal Palace are set to join the race for his services too.
Palace boss Sam Allardyce signed Kone at Sunderland and certainly got the best out of him, and will hope that the prospect of a reunion at Selhurst Park will help him choose Palace over West Ham.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
Whilst Mamadou Sakho is impressing with the Eagles, he is only on loan from Liverpool and a permanent deal is in no way guaranteed, so Kone appears to be emerging as an alternative target.
It’s unclear just how much Sunderland would demand for Kone’s signature, but relegation to the Championship could weaken their bargaining position, and selling him would give David Moyes some more money to play with in the transfer market.
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