Sunderland transfer news: Lamine Kone could be heading for exit as Everton circle for defender

DAVID MOYES is fighting to keep Lamine Kone and admits Sunderland are not ready for the Premier League season.

Moyes denies defender Kone requested a transfer to speed up a £20million move to Everton.

The Scot included the £6m January signing in his squad to face Manchester City tonight.

And the Black Cats boss said: “At the moment we are incredibly short.

“I’m on the phone trying to improve the squad and make it better because we’re nowhere near the finished article.

“You’re judged on all your games but from where we want to be, some boys have had half a training session, some boys have been here a day.

“We have had no formal transfer request for Kone.

“He is in my plans, he is a big player.

“Ideally you wouldn’t want to be in this situation with one or your best players saying it the day before.

“Maybe he has not been given good advice.”