West Brom to battle Crystal Palace for Sunderland defender Lamine Kone who was target of Everton

WEST BROM and Crystal Palace want to capitalise on Sunderland’s relegation with a move for centre-back Lamine Kone, according to reports.

The giant defender is one of the few Black Cats players to escape this miserable season with any dignity.

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And he will be one of their few serious assets the Championship club can cash in over the summer.

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Jermain Defoe deserves Premier League football for another season at least and Kone could move to a handful of interested clubs for as much of £10million.

Sam Allardyce signed Kone when he was Sunderland boss – before taking the England job and eventually ending up at Palace.

And the former defender is apparently keen to link up with the Ivory Coast star again in south London.

Tony Pulis knows plenty about quality defenders and he sees Kone as a suitable summer transfer.

But there could be some issues in the Baggies’ dressing room, if Pulis does get his man, as he had a social media bust-up with West Brom midfielder James McClean.

The Mackems need a massive squad overhaul over the summer – with or without manager David Moyes – with Fabio Borini, Wahbi Khazri, Papy Djilobodji and Jordan Pickford sellable assets.

Everton are expected to make a £10m offer Pickford but Sunderland will reject the offer as they want £20m.

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Moyes seems to want to stay on and rebuild the club like Rafa Benitez did at rivals Newcastle.

The ex-Manchester United man said: “We have to put a plan in place and I have to look to see there’s a strategy to get us bouncing back up.

“That will be the key for me. “When you come into a job, you use the word rebuilding — and I don’t think anybody should be changing that word now.

“But time doesn’t always give you an opportunity to rebuild because you are judged on results automatically.

“I think most people are aware there is more to do — top to bottom.”