Sunderland’s Lamine Kone was strongly linked with a move to Everton, after John Stones’ departure to Manchester City. It was reported Everton offered as much as €26m for the Ivorian defender, but Sunderland rejected the offer.
The 27-year-old has been speaking to French website Foot Mercato, and was asked about Everton’s offer. Kone insists it was difficult for him, as he feels it was a ‘good opportunity’ for him to sign for the club.
He said: “In the end, it was a bit difficult. But these are things in life that we face. It was a good opportunity for me to join this club Everton. They were interested in me and approached my representatives.
“But David Moyes and Sunderland were counting on me. The offers were rejected by the club. It is true that at the time, I was disappointed. Maybe it was not my time.
“Things are back to normal, I signed for another year here. Anyway, I felt good at Sunderland. In the end it all came together.”
The 27-year-old signed for Sunderland in a €6.5m deal in January, and Kone believes he isn’t worth €20m.
He added: “Frankly, not at all. I expected less, amounting to perhaps €8m, €10m or even €12m…. Double the price paid by Sunderland to buy me from Lorient.
“I did not think I was going to be worth as much, more than €20m. The amounts were impressive.”
Sunderland are at the bottom of the table with two points, and it’d be interesting to see if Everton revive their interest in Kone in the future.
