Kone insight !

From today's Sunderland Echo . . . .

Lamine Kone opens up about the failure of his Everton move, and reveals how much the Toffees were willing to pay Sunderland A.F.C. for him. He claimed that Everton made three bids, worth up to £25m in total, for him in the summer of 2016.

Everton wanted to sign the central defender two summers ago after a storming start to his career on Wearside, Kone having helped the Black Cats to stay up against the odds under Sam Allardyce in 2015-16.

Kone was the centre of fierce transfer speculation that summer with Everton keen on landing the Ivory Coast international.

Then Sunderland boss David Moyes was unwilling to let Kone, who had handed in a transfer request, leave Wearside, and he stayed for a further two seasons.

His popularity, much like his form, dipped alarmingly during those two years after an impressive initial six-months at Sunderland.

Kone, speaking about the failed move to Everton, told L’Equipe: "There have been three offers, £18m, £20m and £25m. Six months before, Sunderland had bought me for €6m from Lorient. It was amazing. I started with Châteauroux, the second division club in France, and it was amazing to see this offer. I was coming out of a period where in my first matches in England, I scored three goals and provided an assist. It was huge at that time, but I missed the train (regarding joining Everton). It was a turning point when they (the leaders of Sunderland A.F.C.) blocked my transfer."

Asked if he’d wanted to move, Kone said: "I could have known another career, that’s for sure, but nothing is lost. Strasbourg gave me an opportunity to get back on my feet.”

This week, Kone joined Strasbourg on a season-long loan deal, with the Ligue 1 side paying a loan fee and his wages for the season.

Kone had been training away from the first team at Sunderland since returning to pre-season.

Getting his wages off the bill is a huge financial boost to Sunderland A.F.C. as the Black Cats look to balance the books whilst rebuilding in League One.

 

He signed a new contract with us to fend off Everton's approaches

Has he forgotten that bit?

 

They never bid £25 million either, isn’t that what we quoted when they went to 20?

Selective memory, he’d have likely been quality for Everton as Jagielka would have told him how to play, like Kaboul did.

 

Doesn't really give that much of an insight really.

Would have been better if he'd said "I'm a **** house of a bloke because of x, y and z"

 

‘Yeah I pretty much downed tools when I didn’t get my own way, I did spit my dummy out about a verbal agreement for a pay rise, then when they honoured it I simply couldn’t be arsed anyway’.

More like it. Prick.

 

Aye he’s a big ****er mate, know your battles

 

Just hit him with a piece of wood then run off

 

Strasbourg is a long way to carry a piece of wood JD.

 

No need to worry No Dong it won’t be long before you are back at chateaubriand you big lard arse twat.