Long linked with a move away from Lorient to the Premier League, mostly due to his undoubted physical abilities, Lamine Koné was, and still is, a wanted man.
The 27-year-old is now an alleged target for Ronald Koeman’s Everton, who have just sold John Stones to Manchester City for £47.5m, and could be part of a double arrival of centre-backs alongside Swansea’s Ashley Williams.
The Merseyside club’s first bid, said to be of €18m, was reportedly rejected by David Moyes’ new club, but Everton have come back with an improved offer as they swing their new financial bat around a bit.
If reports from England just don’t do it for you anymore, Foot Mercato in France have also confirmed this report, and claim a €21m (£18m) has now been made.
Furthermore, the French website state Ronald Koeman and co. have offered the Sunderland star a five-year contract to boot.
We’ll probably hear more from this in the coming days.