Everton want to sign two central defenders to compensate for the loss of John Stones to Manchester City and one of those on their agenda is Sunderland's Lamine Kone.

The Toffees have sold Stones to Manchester City for a whopping £47.5m and are now rapidly hunting replacements as the start of the Premier League season looms.
 



Everton have been linked with Swansea City's Ashley Williams, but they want two defenders to replace Stones and are also chasing Sunderland's Kone.

According to French outlet Foot Mercato, Everton have prepared a five-year contract for Kone and are now looking to agree a fee with the Black Cats.
 


It has been claimed Ronald Koeman's men could pay around €21m to sign the former Lorient man, who impressed the Dutch boss with his performances at the Stadium of Light last season.

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Sunderland only snapped Kone up from French side Lorient in the winter transfer window earlier this year, with the 27-year-old putting pen to paper on a contract until 2020 with the Premier League club.

He scored twice for Sunderland in their win over Everton in May.