http://the72.co.uk/107386/reading-eyeing-move-sunderland-defender/ According to nixon.. It is understood that the Black Cats want a permanent deal for Kone, but the Royals are only interested in signing the centre back on a loan deal. Reading have already signed former Sunderland defender John O’Shea this summer, and the Irishman could now lik up with his former team mate at the Madejski Stadium. The 29 year old has spent two and a half years at the Stadium of Light after being signed by Sam Allardyce from Lorient in 2016. He impressed heavily during his first few months in English football and was subject to interest from Everton. However, Kone elected to stay with Sunderland and penned a five year deal with the Wearsiders. He has been part of the squad that has suffered successive relegations from both the Premier League and the Championship and still has three years left on his current contract. He is likely to be one of Sunderland’s biggest earners and Jack Ross wants him off the books at the Stadium of Light completely. The new Sunderland manager is set to undergo a rebuilding job this summer, and Kone does not feature in his plans. Reading defender Liam Moore could to be on his way out of the club as Brighton look to sign the 23 year old and Kone could be his replacement next campaign. Kone’s career in Wearside appears to be over, but will he get a second crack at the Championship with the Royals?
That is certainly one interpretation of events. If he's going it needs to be for money surely. A loan with a decent loan fee and covering most of his wages may have to do but overall it's just breaking even for a year on an assett; selling for even a reduced fee would be preferable. Not sure how to value him though - £17m 2 years ago, probably more like £12m a year ago, anything in the £5-7m region should be realistic now right?
You may be right, he's only 29 though. I'd have thought he could find a top flight club somewhere willing to take his as a 3rd/4th choice CB based on previous showings of ability. Suspect it's has wages which are the stumbling block rather than the fee. Just guessing of course.
Hmmm - so they want to reunite that fantastic defensive pairing of O'Shea and Kone that did so well for us last season We should sell him if we can but only loan him to someone who will pay all of his wages - maybe Wolves, Cardiff or Fulham.
According to JR there are a few players that have said that initially they wanted to leave but now feel as they were part of the demise over the last 2 seasons they want to get us back up... I think Kone might be one of them...
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha i doubt it. That mercanary didn't want to play in the championship ffs, he's hardly going to want to stay in league one
I'm not sure what to think of Kone, safe to say when he was trying to leave a couple of years ago that was his agent speaking and these days he seems like a forgotten man. Doesn't seem to have been any real interest for a while now and maybe his agent isn't particularly arsed anymore because there's no payday worth their time. If that is the case then maybe left to his own devices he's not so bad a bloke and if the imagination can stretch this far, is a footballer willing to play for his wage.
Tell Reading that we will consider their offer AFTER the window closes. If they can't afford a, say £5mil fee, max, they are going to be pushed to pay his wages. If we are going to loan him out for no fee and subsidise his wages we may as well keep him. In this league I expect that he would be a very good player. I understand about getting the payroll under control but we also want to get back up. To do that we are going to need some players who can play at the higher level. IF our new Manager can convince Kone to buy into the idea, he could yet prove to be the player that we thought Sam had bought. A risk? Perhaps, but worth it in my view.
Kone is a good player - with a good player alongside him. Kaboul was immense that season and made Kone a much better centre half. Kaboul left and so did Kone's ability. He has shown very occasional glimpses of his ability but they are fleeting and very far between! That said - SAFC want a permanent deal (and he's not in our top 3 earners - or wasn't before Rodwell left - Rodwell, Catts and Oviedo according to Donald) If Reading want him they can stump up or do one!!
They won't be able to afford him, so they will be looking to take the p1ss. Even with the reduction in wages, I can't see how a championship club that is not in receipt of parachute payments could afford to take on high wages and pay a loan fee
