Sunderland manager Simon Grayson is keen to keep defender Lamine Kone despite interest growing from Premier League clubs West Ham and Southampton, according to the Daily Star.
The defender had a hostile atmosphere directed at him following a series of errors in the 5-0 friendly defeat against Celtic, with many Black Cats supporters coming to the thought that Kone was playing badly on purpose in order to leave the Stadium of Light.
But, following his bad performances in the friendly, the Wearside club’s boss elected to start Kone in Sunderland’s Championship opener against Derby County.
While Grayson revealed that he still has faith in the defender following his performance against Gary Rowett’s Derby, he has admitted that if the right offer came in then he would rethink the situation.
West Ham, Southampton and West Brom are three of the clubs keeping tabs on Kone, but Grayson will continue to select the Ivorian while he is at the Stadium of Light he proves worthy of being in the side.
“Both Khazri and Kone have shown a good attitude,” said Grayson. “We have a value on their heads and if nobody reaches that value then they will stay.
Lamine has been questioned but he was outstanding the other night. He did everything right. While they are here they will be part and parcel of the team. If they go we will see where it takes us.”
It’s part and parcel of being a manager and working out what is best for the football club, while any player is contracted at a club you have to treat them correctly, and when an opportunity comes to leave we can’t be accused of not looking after them, we knew it would happen. We still think one or two more could go, but while we have them we will keep working with them.”
