Everton have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Lamine Kone.
According to The Mirror, Sunderland are offering Everton a half-price deal for defender Lamine Kone, 18 months since his £19million move to Goodison Park fell through.
The Black Cats snapped up Kone from Lorient in January 2016 after a lengthy transfer saga, and he played a key part in keeping the club in the Premier League under Sam Allardyce.
Everton attempted to land him in the summer of 2016, but were unsuccessful in their bid, leaving the Ivorian international to play out the season in a Sunderland side which suffered relegation to the Championship.
Despite suggestions that he would leave the Stadium of Light, Kone has stayed with Sunderland, but his form has tailed off, and he hasn’t appeared for the club since the 26th of October.
With a January exit anticipated as Sunderland attempt to raise funds, The Mirror now report that Kone will be offered to Everton for just £10million – half the price they were willing to pay in 2016.
Given that Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams are both in their 30’s, another defender may be wanted even after signing Michael Keane over the summer, and Kone is certainly familiar with Toffees boss Allardyce.
However, after a tough 18 months since his Everton move collapsed, Kone certainly isn’t the player he was back then, and Everton may have to think twice about accepting the proposal from the Black Cats – even if Allardyce believes he can resurrect the defender.
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