Hammers linked with £15m centre back

West Ham have been linked with Sunderland defender Lamine Kone. A report in the Daily Mirror by John Richardson claims Hammers chiefs are lining up a January move for the Ivory Coast star who will cost around £ 15m.

The article says Kone has been on Bilic’s wanted list for some time and the Croatian will sanction a move even though the centre-half could be at the Africa Cup of Nations early in the new year for up to a month.

With the approach of the African Cup of Nations next January, West Ham could be without four key players for three crucial weeks next winter. Both Senegal and Ghana have qualified for the African Cup finals meaning Cheikhou Kouyaté, Diafra Sakho, Andre Ayew and Sofiane Feghouli could all play if fit.

The tournament will be hosted in Gabon between 14th January – 5th February 2017 meaning all four could miss league games against Palace, Middlesborough, Manchester City and Southampton.