Everton target has not been offered a new contract

News out of training this morning is that Lamine Kone is requesting a new contract after Everton interest at £18 million was turned down yesterday. This comes with new Sunderland manager David Moyes refuses to sell without another replacement in place. There were even rumors Moyes looked to rebuild the old Toffees by acquiring Everton captain Phil Jagielka as part of this move.

Everton immediately denied this request and appear interested in having Jagielka, Kone, Ashley Williams and Ramiro Funes Mori split time at the center back position this season. After Jagielka’s health has declined the past two seasons this seems like a smart move for Ronald Koeman and Steve Walsh.

The big question this morning is Kone serious about his interest to stay with Sunderland or is he showing his resolve to force his way out. He only joined Sunderland this past January for £5 million from Lorient in France and is under contract until 2020. Will Sunderland be willing to pay higher wages for the 27 year old defender or view this as an opportunity to make a nice profit on him?

Sunderland fans who caught up with the player outside the training grounds shared a video on Facebook of the player saying that he hadn’t been offered a new contract, and that he would like to stay at the Wearside club.

I don’t think Sunderland increases his wages and instead takes either the offer from Everton or the rumored interest from Chelsea. That said they could save themselves some trouble of bringing in a new defender by just giving him the offer he wants.