West Ham are preparing a bid for Sunderland defender Lamine Kone.

The London Evening Standard says West Ham are considering a summer bid for Kone.

Kone has been on West Ham's radar for some time and the club look likely to make a raid if the Black Cats are relegated.

The 28-year-old joined Sunderland in the summer of 2016 and his form at the heart of their defence was one of the main reasons they stayed up last season.

He asked to leave Sunderland last August but eventually signed a five-year contract with the North-East club.