Everton have again been linked with a move for Sunderland centre-back Lamine Kone.
Everton fans would be forgiven for being a little concerned with The Sun reporting that Lamine Kone is a key target in the January transfer window.
The Ivorian centre-back isn’t even a guaranteed starter for a Sunderland side struggling near the bottom of the Championship. And he was one of the worst culprits as The Black Cats were relegated with a whimper from the Premier League last season.
Nonetheless, with Sunderland prepared to let Kone leave on the cheap in January, it is understood that Everton are again interested in a player they bid a now baffling £18 million for back in the summer of 2016, per Sky Sports.
But with recent form doesn’t exactly suggest that Kone would shore up one of the Premier League’s leakiest backlines, it must be remembered who got the best out of the defender during his best spell in English football – none other than current Toffees boss Sam Allardyce.
It was the 63-year-old who brought Kone to Wearside from Lorient in two years ago next month. And, along with fellow mid-season recruits Jan Kirchhoff and Wahbi Khazri, Kone played a major role in Sunderland’s great escape from relegation – he even scored twice in a 3-0 win against Everton that sent rivals Newcastle down in their place.
So if Allardyce can coax that sort of form and commitment out of Kone again, there is no reason to believe he cannot get back to his best at Goodison Park.
Allardyce could make the deal possible. He could also make it a success.
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