Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce is reportedly keen on Sunderland duo Jermain Defoe and Lamine Kone.
According to the Daily Express, new Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce is lining up a £15million swoop for Sunderland defender Lamine Kone – and The Mirror claim that he also wants Black Cats striker Jermain Defoe.
Allardyce was appointed as Palace’s new manager on Friday following Alan Pardew’s departure, and took charge of his first game this afternoon as Palace drew 1-1 away at Watford.
Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce
The result leaves Palace just two points clear of the relegation zone, and Allardyce will want January reinforcements in order to secure Premier League survival – as he did at Sunderland last season.
Now, the Daily Express report that the ex-England boss wants to raid former club Sunderland for defender Lamine Kone, and is hoping that the Palace board will back a £15million move for the Ivorian, despite having James Tomkins – a player he worked with at West Ham – already at Selhurst Park.
Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe in action
Kone, 27, was signed by Allardyce at Sunderland in January of this year, making a protracted move from French side Lorient as he arrived on Wearside to help the Black Cats’ fight against relegation.
The centre back starred for Sunderland and even attracted summer interest, and with the Express claiming that he is unsettled at the Stadium of Light, Allardyce is allegedly hoping to take advantage with a £15million offer, which would be three times what Sunderland bought him for in January – but his participation at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast is something for Palace to consider.
Meanwhile, The Mirror claim that Allardyce wants a reunion with another Sunderland player, as he is keen to offer former Tottenham and West Ham United striker Jermain Defoe a return to London.
Defoe, 34, has hit eight goals in 18 games for Sunderland this season, and particularly thrived under Allardyce last season as Sunderland again managed to stay in the Premier League.
A partnership featuring Defoe and Palace star Christian Benteke could be a dream for Allardyce, but Sunderland – who are also fighting against relegation along with Palace – would be reluctant to sell their star striker, particularly to a direct rival.
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