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Roker Round-up: Two Linked - Kone Talks Ongoing

Sunderland have been linked with moves for two attacking players and talks for Lamine Kone have resumed.

Stu Forster/Getty Images

We have just completed the signing of former Hull striker Dame N'Doye but reports this afternoon suggest we may want to further strengthen our front line.

According to 'Sky Sources', Sunderland have made an approach for Swansea's Andre Ayew but the same report goes on to say that the Swans want to keep hold of the player. Ayew only signed a four-year-deal with Swansea in the summer after he completed a free transfer from Marseille.

The 26-year-old seven goals in 20 games for Swansea this season, including the second in our vital 4-2 win on Wednesday night, a game in which he also won a dubious penalty for the home side's equaliser.

We have also been linked with a move for CSKA Moscow's on-loan Roma striker Seydou Doumbia according to Italian website tuttomercatoweb.

The Ivory Coast international struggled after moving to Roma from CSKA Moscow and quickly rejoined the Russian club on-loan. The 28-year-old's loan spell is during to end in this window and, with the player not keen to return to Roma, his future is up in the air. The report claims we are battling with Swansea and CSKA for the player's signature.

Due to the arrival of N'Doye, Danny Graham is expected to depart the Stadium of Light after tomorrow's game against Tottenham but it's hard to imagine another striker coming in unless Steven Fletcher also departs during this transfer window. Adam Johnson's pending court case may also force Sam Allardyce to look for a potential attacking midfield replacement, a position that Ayew is arguably more suited in.

Finally, Lamine Kone's on/off transfer saga continues. It looked as if the transfer was set to be concluded only for the player to return to France and Lorient's vice president Alex Hayes complaining about Sunderland's conduct, then it was reported to be on again, only for rumours to suggest the player was no longer keen on the move but this afternoon Hayes confirmed that the transfer may still happen;

Discussions have resumed with Sunderland [over the transfer of Kone]

No doubt there will be further twists and turns in this transfer but there's no doubt that we need another centre half, despite the arrival of Jan Kirchhoff, so finger's crossed we can finally complete this transfer.

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