Everton are to bid £18million for Sunderland defender Lamine Kone, according to The Express.
Ronald Koeman has already seen a bid of £14million rejected for the 27-year-ol but is to test Sunderland’s new boss David Moyes with an improved offer. Leicester City and West Brom also hold interest in the centre-back, though, Everton are the front runners for his signature.
Kone signed for Sunderland in January for a fee of £6million, and played a big part as his side, led by Sam Allardyce, avoided relegation. David Moyes is understandably keen to keep Kone and has offered him a new deal worth £70,000-a-week to fend off any interest.
Kone played in 15 Premier League games after his January move, keeping four clean sheets – including one in a 3-0 win over Everton, where he scored twice. He also averaged an impressive 12 defensive actions per game and committed just one defensive error.
Ashley Williams and Jose Fonte have also been linked with a move to Goodison Park recently, though, talk has since cooled down.
