Newcastle look to trump Everton to signature of Wigan striker Arouna Kone
Magpies set to open talks over £5m transfer
Newcastle are set to open talks with the Wigan forward Arouna Kone about a possible £5m move to St James' Park.
The 29-year-old striker had looked set to move to Everton until Newcastle's late intervention.
Kone scored 11 goals for Wigan last season following his £2m move from Levante.
However his agent admitted he did not want to play in the Championship and that alerted Everton and former DW Stadium manager Roberto Martinez.
Kone had looked set to move to Goodison Park until Newcastle's late move. Kone will now meet representatives from St James' Park with Newcastle keen to sign a centre forward this summer.
The move for Kone is a major change of the policy brought in under chief scout Graham Carr, where the club concentrated on young players with resale value. Kone is 30 in November, although it is believed he still favours a move to Everton.
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