Premier League Transfer News: Kone Looking For Move Away From Wigan; West Brom Targeting Loan Deals

Jun 25, 2013 05:04 AM EDT

Wigan forward Arouna Kone is looking for a move away from the DW Stadium after the Latics were relegated from the English Premier League at the end of last season.

Kone scored 11 goals in his debut season in the Premier League, but with Wigan playing in the Championship next season, the club are expected to lose several of their key players.

Everton, now managed by former Latics manager Roberto Martinez, who brought Kone to Wigan, is thought to be interested in the Ivory Coast international's services.

Kone said he had a few offers on the table with newly-promoted Crystal Palace also an option.

"You always have ambitions as a footballer, and I don't intend to play in the English second division," Kone told The Sun.

"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. But Crystal Palace have gone up, and from the moment a club is in the Premier League that is good for me.

"I'm under contract with Wigan for two more years. But if there is an offer that is good for both me and Wigan I will seek to leave."

Meanwhile, West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace believes loan deals will again be key for the club to move forward from last season.

West Brom, under manager Steve Clarke, impressed last year with Chelsea's on-loan striker Romelu Lukaku particularly catching the eye.

"Being creative in the transfer market is always a good thing," Peace told the club's official website. "We'll try to be creative on deals and think outside the box. It's about making our resources go a lot further.

"For example, Ben Foster was a good transfer. We loaned him from Birmingham City and, having worked with him for a year, signed him permanently on terms which we believed were attractive to us.

"The one thing we are going to try to do this year, if we possibly can, is take two Premier League loans."

Peace said the club had eyes on a few players who could possible make a difference, especially with Lukaku returning to his parent club Chelsea.

"We're looking for certain types of player to fit in and work within our style," he added. "For example, there are plenty of strikers and wingers out there who we could take but they won't all fit our style of play.

"We know the system we've got and have been working hard to identify which players we want to bring in.

"We've done a lot of groundwork for this transfer window and we're certainly not panicking because we haven't brought in any signings at this early stage. June is traditionally a quiet month in terms of transfer movement.

"But we're well prepared for the summer ahead in terms of player recruitment and have lots of plates spinning."

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