After taking over at Everton a few weeks ago, former Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is already looking at his former club for a couple of players. Striker Arouna Kone is thought to be keen on his list of players he would like to bring from his former club. The striker is now looking set to join Everton for around £ 5 million. Antolin Alcaraz is also another player who is linked with a move to Everton. Kone has been one of the standout players for Wigan since arriving from Spanish club Levante only last summer. He managed to score some vital goals for Wigan last season.
However, the club was unable to stay in the Premier league despite Kone’s 11 goals. It was immediately expected after their relegation that several top players will leave the club partly because of ambition to remain in the Premier league, while partly because the club cannot afford their wages. Kone is expected to be one of the first departures, and he will bring in £ 5 million in transfer revenue for new manager Owen Coyle to spend at the DW stadium.
Kone helped Wigan win the FA Cup for the first time in their history, but he said soon after that he would like to leave the club after their relegation was confirmed.
“You always have ambitions as a footballer, and I don’t intend to play in the English second division. Wigan have gone down, which is a real shame. It’s up to them to set out their stance about my situation. I aim to play for one of the best clubs in England, and I hope I will get the chance. I’ve had plenty of approaches, I can’t reveal the names of the clubs. I’m under contract with Wigan for two more years,” said the Ivory Coast international.