Everton boss Allardyce tracking Sunderland star's fitness

Emi Martinez is shown TWO yellow cards but little-known rule means he AVOIDS being sent off for winding up Lille fans during penalty shootout… before Villa keeper saves decisive spot-kick
Liverpool failed but gave fans hope that the Jurgen Klopp era can still have a magical ending, writes LEWIS STEELE
West Ham gave everything against a team that appear to be invincible, writes KATHRYN BATTE as Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen reach Europa League semis
PLAYER RATINGS: Two Liverpool stars score just 5/10 as Jurgen Klopp's side fail to deliver comeback against Atalanta to crash out of Europa League
Jurgen Klopp insists it's vital Liverpool are 'back to winning ways' amid Premier League title charge despite being knocked out of Europe by Atalanta… and says it's 'insane' that Trent started
The Premier League is poisoning our game and their hand in having FA Cup replays scrapped is another spoonful of arsenic down the throats of the smaller clubs, writes OLIVER HOLT
Arsenal and Man City count the cost of tired legs and weary minds, writes JACK GAUGHAN: Yes, Gunners were naive and Pep's boys wasteful, but fixture jam played a part in Champions League exits
Max Verstappen priced at 1/6 to make it four wins out of five this season at Chinese Grand Prix - with Lewis Hamilton 40/1 to secure his first victory since December 2021
Arsenal identify THREE positions to strengthen in the summer in wake of Champions League exit, with significant funds to be made available for transfers
EFL in UPROAR over decision to scrap FA Cup replays from next season - with surprised clubs branding it a 'DISGRACE' and furious executives claiming they will seek compensation
Ronald Araujo offers blunt response to Ilkay Gundogan's criticism that his red card against PSG fueled Champions League exit... amid toxic Barcelona dressing room split
For a man who has been handed everything, Lewis Hamilton needs to stop feeling sorry for himself
Liverpool lacked the 'belief' required to pull off comeback at Atalanta, says Peter Crouch after his former club crashed out of the Europa League as he insists Reds were 'disappointing'
Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso hints that David Moyes calling his bench a 'disgrace' last week sparked bust-up with West Ham dugout in return leg that saw two assistant coaches sent off
Mo Salah's first-half miss proves crucial in Liverpool's Europa League defeat by Atalanta as Peter Crouch insists 'it's not that difficult' and proves the Egyptian is out of form
Emiliano Martinez's ludicrous antics detract from his enormous talent, writes TOM COLLOMOSSE as Aston Villa keeper's shootout heroics book Europa Conference League semi-final
Michail Antonio BLASTS officials in post-match rant following West Ham's Europa League loss to Bayer Leverkusen... as forward insists his side 'remained professional' despite frustrations
Emiliano Martinez claims it was his 'destiny' to be Aston Villa's shootout hero against Lille... as Argentine's antics help Unai Emery's side reach Europa Conference League semi-finals
West Ham assistant Billy McKinlay is SENT OFF after furious touchline row with Bayer Leverkusen staff... sparking a mass brawl among the players in chaotic Europa League clash
Peter Crouch reveals he was 'left SCREAMING for a red card' during Liverpool's crunch clash with Atalanta... after Isak Hien was spared sending off despite handball as last man
Premier League suffer yet ANOTHER critical blow in UEFA coefficient rankings after West Ham and Liverpool Europa League defeats... with hopes of earning an extra Champions League spot all but over
AC Milan players are confronted by the club's ultras after their defeat to Roma in the Europa League... as Stefano Pioli's side are knocked out the competition after 3-1 aggregate loss to rivals
'Is that for prisoners?': Liverpool fans left stunned by Atalanta's away end for crunch Europa League tie... with 1,000 Reds to be situated in the corner of the ground in frightful-looking stand
Haaland and De Bruyne had nothing left in gruelling Real Madrid loss and Rodri is begging for a rest... but who out of NINE players clocking 3,000-plus minutes has played the most? How Man City were run into the ground in quest for double treble

Sunderland star Lamine Kone is a potential January transfer target for Everton
Boss Sam Allardyce will assess medical reports to monitor Kone's knee injury
The centre back has been out of action since sustaining his injury in October
Allardyce has worked with Kone before, during his time at Sunderland in 2015-16

Published: 06:28 EDT, 12 December 2017 | Updated: 07:00 EDT, 12 December 2017

e-mail

Sam Allardyce is keeping track of Sunderland defender Lamine Kone's fitness as he recovers from injury.

The Everton boss will assess detailed medical reports before deciding on whether to move for the 28-year-old in January.

Allardyce initially brought the centre back to England from Lorient in January 2016, when in charge of the Black Cats.

Sunderland's Lamine Kone (left) is a potential January target for Everton boss Sam Allardyce

Kone flourished in his first season in the north-east but his influence faded away under new boss David Moyes, as the team were relegated from the Premier League.

The struggles have continued for the Ivory Coast international this season after he suffered a knee injury in late October which has kept him on the sidelines.

Current Sunderland boss Chris Coleman suggested his man would not return for another 'two or three months'.

But, according to the Northern Echo, Allardyce will consider moving for the defender in the winter window should he be satisfied with the medical updates.

Allardyce will first request detailed medical reports to assess the centre backs's knee injury

Kone has previously been a target for the Toffees.

Sunderland rejected two offers for their defender in the summer of 2016, the last of which was worth an estimated £20million.

The Championship side are now keen to offload the centre back though, since his influence has diminished, and Kone would relish a reunion with Allardyce.