According to reports on The Mirror's live transfer blog on Thursday , Everton's January transfer window plans may have changed after they were offered the chance to sign Sunderland defender Lamine Kone in a cut-price deal.

What's the word, then?

Well, The Mirror says that the Toffees can bring the Ivory Coast international to Goodison Park for £10m in the New Year, just 18 months after they bid £19m to bring him to Merseyside, and it could prove to be an attractive proposition considering they have been linked with a £30m move for West Brom's Jonny Evans and a £20m move for Lille's Adama Soumaoro.

Everton boss Sam Allardyce knows Kone well having brought him to Sunderland in 2016 during his spell in charge at the Stadium of Light, and the 63-year-old could jump at the chance to be reunited with the centre-back after he played a key role in keeping the Mackems up in 2016.

How has Kone done this season?

The 28-year-old was unable to prevent Sunderland being relegated from the Premier League for the second successive campaign, and he made 11 Championship appearances for them before picking up a knee injury which has kept him on the sidelines since.

However, Kone showed the ability that he has earlier in the season and according to Squawka, the centre-back has won 33 of the 48 aerial duels he has faced in England's second tier this term, while he also made 103 clearances, 18 interceptions and seven blocks.

Would he be a good signing for Everton?

He certainly would be, yes.

While some Toffees supporters may be put off by the fact that Kone was part of a poor Sunderland team and defence last season, the 28-year-old has shown on an individual basis that he is more than good enough to perform at a high level in the Premier League.

The Merseyside outfit need a younger but experienced defender to replace the likes of Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka in the long-term – and with summer addition Michael Keane struggling and left out of the team in recent weeks – and the Ivory Coast international could certainly do that.

If Allardyce could bring Kone to Goodison Park for around £10m, he would probably be more than happy to do it considering some of the high prices they may have to pay for other targets next month.

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