West Ham are chasing Sunderland defender Lamine Kone.

The Sunday Mirror says West Ham are ready to trigger an £18million get-out clause in Kone's contract with fellow strugglers Sunderland.

Slaven Bilic wants the 27-year-old to hold together his leaking defence and his bosses will act next month.

Centre-back Kone was brought in by then-boss Sam Allardyce for £6million from French club Lorient last January, helped the Wearsiders avoid relegation and signed a new five-year deal in September.

But the Ivory Coast player had a clause inserted which could see him leave the Stadium of Light in January — and the Hammers are ready to pounce.