Sunderland manager David Moyes is standing firm as Lamine Kone and his agent try and force away a move from the Stadium of Light. Kone, who only arrived on Wearside in January, has his heart and his wallet set on a move to Everton, with the Toffee’s lodging an £18-million bid for the Ivorian last week.
Kone had originally stated that his reasoning for wanting to leave Sunderland was because the Black Cats had apparently gone back on their word and failed to offer him a new contract for keeping the club in the Premier League. However, fast forward a week or so, Sunderland have offered Kone a new deal, and the Ivorian and his agent have refused to listen to any offers made by the club.
Kone and his agents lies are making them look foolish but they are also placing the club in a difficult situation. The Black Cats have just sold Younes Kaboul to Watford for £3.5-million after the Frenchman cited personal reasons for his desire to return to the South. Moyes does not wish to lose another defender, with the club looking to add to the squad in the coming weeks rather than further dent an already thin team.
Ivorian Kone, A day after rejecting a new contract from Sunderland, reported for training yesterday complaining of a ‘back injury’, and despite the suspiciousness of the timing, Kone will be ruled out of tomorrow’s clash with Middlesbrough. Despite the clear hostility surrounding the situation Moyes does not rule out Kone staying on Wearside this summer. Speaking to the Express, former Everton manager Moyes states that he will not be told what to do by any players, with the Scot putting his stamp on the squad.
“We offered him a contract and he said no. His choice was still to go. We’re disappointed but he’s still under contract for four years. It’s not too big a deal for us. Players will go when we tell them to go, not when they want to go.”
