Latics pair Arouna Kone and Antolin Alcaraz, both influential figures during last season’s campaign appear to be zoning in on the short move down the M58 with new Everton manager Roberto Martinez set to raid the DW Stadium to be reunited with his former charges.
Alcaraz will actually become a free agent on July 1st having let his three-year contract expire and previously snubbing the offer of a new extended deal and therefore it will come as no surprise that the Paraguay international will be exiting stage left.
Kone on the other hand is only one year into a three-year contract and it was hoped that the 29-year-old striker would spearhead Wigan’s Championship challenge.
However recent rumours surrounding the Ivorian suggest that he does not wish to drop down from the Premier League and would very much like to rekindle his relationship with Martinez.
Wigan boss Owen Coyle is more or less resigned to losing last season’s leading marksman with Kone’s contract buyout clause a not so closely guarded secret.
The figure, thought to be circa the £5 million mark, looks certain to be trigged by the frontman’s suitors with not only Everton but also Norwich, Hull and Swansea believed to be interested in his services.
Coyle was quoted in a recent interview with the Wigan Evening Post: “Kone is a terrific player and I think the whole world is aware he has a clause in his contract.
“If that’s met it would probably mean business would have to be done. But there has been nothing yet which has triggered that so we will have to wait and see what the news on that will be.”
“I don’t know what he’s been asked or if he’s been misquoted but the bottom line is I can understand that any player feels that they want to play at the highest level possible.
“If that is to happen I know through my chat with the chairman and the chief executive that money would be reinvested in the squad and on a footballing front.
“So that’s where we are. Arouna Kone is a terrific player, there is no doubt with that but what is equally important is that fans of Wigan Athletic know that what we need next are players that want to be at Wigan Athletic.
“Those are the type of players we need to drive us up the league and back to the Premier League.”
