Sunderland AFC transfer news: Man United duo set for medicals, Everton and Chelsea want Kone
Fresh reports this morning say Sunderland will offer the duo four-year deals, with the Black Cats set to pay upwards of £5.5million for the pair.
Sunderland have spent £8million on Chelsea centre-back Papy Djilobodji but face losing key defender Kone to Everton in an £18million deal. Chelsea are also interested.
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Hide AdThe arrival of McNair and Love would speed up Kone’s departure, with the Black Cats unwilling to sanction his exit to cash-rich Everton before signing defensive reinforcements.
Northern Ireland international McNair is a centre-back who has made a total of 27 career appearances, while full-back Love was given his debut by Louis van Gaal.
Love, who made his debut against Sunderland in February, spent time on loan at Wigan Athletic last season, making eight appearances.
For the latest on McNair, Love and Kone click here:Kone, meanwhile, was due to be back training at the Academy of Light today.
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Hide AdThe 27-year-old is understood to have been on Merseyside on Monday with a view to completing an £18million move to Everton after failing to receive a new contract offer he was expecting.
Kone's agent, Mark McKay has confirmed the centre-back will re-join his team-mates on Wearside following a scheduled day off. McKay said: "Lamine Kone will be at training with Sunderland [Wednesday] and is available, if selected, for Sunderland's game with Manchester City [on Saturday]. "However, he still awaits the offer of the new contract."
And finally, Jan Kirchhoff's pre-season may have been blighted by calf and hamstring injuries but he has vowed to be fit enough to play "full tempo" for 90 minutes this season.
Despite his influence last season, the 25-year-old midfielder was often substituted around the 70 minute mark.
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Hide AdThis season, though, Kirchhoff believes he will be at the same fitness levels as the rest of the squad ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
"I feel comfortable to be healthy enough to stay on the pitch and go for a whole season, that won’t be the problem," Kirchhoff said.