• Premier League

Kone expected to complete Everton move

ESPN staff
July 2, 2013
Roberto Martinez clearly has a lot of faith in Arouna Kone © PA Photos
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Wigan manager Owen Coyle has confirmed Arouna Kone wants to join Everton and believes the striker could leave the DW Stadium in the next few days.

Coyle said he will not stand in the way of the £6 million-rated forward after the Ivory Coast international said he did not want to play in the Championship.

Kone, who scored 13 goals last season, is set to be reunited with former Wigan manager Roberto Martinez at Goodison Park after plumping for Everton ahead of his other suitors.

"I'm led to believe through his representative that Everton is the club he wants to join," Coyle told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"It's not rocket science to say that Arouna Kone will probably leave at some point this week. There have been a number of offers in for him," Coyle added.

"There is no problem, he goes with our blessing because I need players who need to be at Wigan. If his heart's elsewhere then he's no good to me."

Kone, 29, is a former PSV Eindhoven, Sevilla and Levante player and only joined Wigan last summer. He was their top scorer but was unable to keep them in the Premier League.

Martinez is also expected to bring in defender Antolin Alcaraz, who left Wigan after his contract at the DW Stadium expired at the end of last season.

Coyle has been busy adding to Wigan's squad, adding Burnley midfielder Chris McCann, Blackpool left-back Stephen Crainey and Norwegian defender Thomas Rogne.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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