Irons set for double swoop for defender and striker

kone1West Ham could make a double raid on seemingly doomed Sunderland this summer with both Jermain Defoe and defender Lamine Kone (right) targets .

The 28 year old central defender who can also play right back has long been on the Hammers radar but the defender was persuaded to sign a new deal which would keep him at the club until 2021.

But we understand he has a buy out at around £7 million in his deal and with the Black Cats set to cut their wage bill should they be relegated, a deal looks on.

It would mean the Hammers would have strengthened a defence which already sees Winston Reid, Angelo Ogbonna, Jose Fonte, plus Reece Oxford and Reece Burke available.

But Kone’s versatility is seen as the key and he could easily be making the move to the East End along with Pablo Zabaletta thus placing a question mark over Sam Byram’s Irons future.

However, the club can expect competition from Everton for Kone given their interest before he signed a new deal last summer.

Meanwhile, the Irons will take a close look at Jermain Defoe on Saturday as they close in on plans to make the bid which could see the striker end his career with the club.

 

 

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon