Sunderland defender Lamine Kone was reportedly desperate to move to Everton last summer – but he doesn’t appear to be on their radar this time.
You know you’re hardly in the form of your life when you’re being left out of Sunderland’s starting XI. Therefore, the fact that Lamine Kone was absent as The Black Cats’ grip upon their Premier League status loosened with a 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough on Wednesday doesn’t reflect well on his own performances.
As such, it seems inevitable that the Ivorian centre-back will depart Wearside in the summer with the Daily Mirror reporting that West Ham and Crystal Palace are hoping to hand the 28-year-old a top flight lifeline.
Palace appear to be the stand-out favourites. Managed by Sam Allardyce, who brought the 28-year-old to Sunderland from Lorient in January last year, The Eagles are on the lookout for replacements for Liverpool loanee Mamadou Sakho.
However, it appears that Everton are no longer interested in adding Kone to their backline despite appearing to be on the verge of striking a deal last summer.
As reported by The Sun, The Toffees were willing to fork out £18 million for the wantaway Kone after he played a major role in another Sunderland ‘great escape’ in the second half of last season. And the no-nonsense defender himself later admitted to the Sunderland Echo that he was disappointed to miss out on a ‘golden opportunity’.
Lamenting Lamine
However, his seemingly disinterested performances this season appear to suggest that Everton dodged a bullet. A stark contrast to the aggressive, full-blooded warrior who thrived under Allardyce, Kone has appeared unable, or unwilling, to do even the basics under David Moyes since handing in a transfer request in the summer.
Consequently, Everton are reported to have turned their attention to the likes of Michael Keane and Harry Maguire instead.
Rather than blaming Sunderland, Kone should perhaps look at himself. After all, it’s his own abysmal performances which have cost him another ‘golden opportunity’ this time around.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
