Roker Roundup: Ivory Coast international defender Kone finally set to leave Sunderland in €1.5m deal

McLaughlin desperate to help Sunderland into Championship

Jon McLaughlin has been speaking to the press on international duty with Scotland and attentions soon turned to Sunderland’s play-off final defeat to Charlton Athletic on Sunday.

Sunderland’s number one said getting promoted was always going to be a difficult job due to all the upheaval at the club but is determined to help the club bounce back next season:

Everyone on the outside was a little naive if they thought getting Sunderland up was going to be an easy gig.

Some people seemed to think a huge club like Sunderland would just waltz out of League One in a canter. Wage bills don’t win you games though.

It was always going to be a tough task, we knew that. The management staff have done a really good job dealing with all the upheaval.

Sunday was a tough one to take. It’s devastating for everyone at the club. We came so close.

We have to use this and learn from this. Hopefully it will give us some fire in our bellies for next season. We’re desperate to put this club back in the Championship.

Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images

Kone set for move

According to reports in France, Kone is set to sign a two-year deal with RC Strasbourg after a successful loan spell at the Ligue 1 club.

The report claims that the club will trigger their option in Kone’s loan deal and take the defender back to the club for a fee of €1.5m once the transfer window opens in France on June 11th.

Kone played 32 times in all competitions for the Alsace-based club this season, with only injuries preventing him from featuring more.

Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images

Gyan calls in bailiffs

Asamoah Gyan has called in the bailiffs on his current club Kayserispor over unpaid wages.

The former Sunderland striker took the action after the Turkish outfit failed to pay outstanding wages of €435,000 before the start of May, despite the club’s promises.

Gyan is out of contract with the club next month and had the bailiffs turn up at the club’s headquarters where they proceeded to remove items and load them onto a truck.

The player was convinced to put a stop to the action after discussions with the club’s lawyers, with Gyan said to want to avoid courting bad publicity for a club he has played with for two years.