Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce has bid for Lamine Kone.

The Daily Star Sunday says Lorient announced they have received a £5m bid for Ivory Coast centre-back Kone, 26.

Allardyce has also been linked with QPR's Steven Caulker, 24, who is on loan at Southampton and Schalke's Joel Matip, 24, valued at £8million.

The Black Cats boss is interested, too, in Stoke City's versatile Republic of Ireland defender Marc Wilson, 28. Big Sam also wanted West Ham's Wales central defender James Collins, but he has just agreed a new contract.