Sunderland to accept just £7million for Lamine Kone after the Black Cats’ relegation
Defender was worth nearly THREE times more when Everton showed an interest last year
SUNDERLAND are prepared to take a knock-down £7million for Lamine Kone after the pain of relegation.
The Ivory Coast centre-back, 28, was valued at almost THREE times that last season when Everton came calling soon after his arrival from French club Lorient.
But Black Cats owner Ellis Short will now take the lower sum.
Kone is desperate to move on after taking a share of the blame for a disastrous campaign.
The 28-year-old still has four years remaining on his current contract after signing a deal last summer.
The defender arrived in January 2016 and went on to play a key role as Sam Allardyce kept the Black Cats up.
Kone's future continues to hang in the balance just days after Jordan Pickford signed for Everton to become Britain's most expensive keeper ever.
Pickford arrived at Goodison Park for £25m, in a move which could rise to £30m.
While all of this is going on, the Black Cats continue to be managerless - after David Moyes resigned as manager.