DAVID MOYES has made his first signing as Sunderland manager by landing Chelsea defender Papy Djilobodji for £8m – and he is keen to ensure the new recruit is not a replacement for Lamine Kone.

Everton are prepared to launch a £17m bid for Kone but the Black Cats are going to do everything they can to keep the Ivorian at the Stadium of Light where he could form a partnership with new boy Djilobodji.

Sunderland, who drew 1-1 with Borussia Dortmund last night in their final friendly of the summer in which Kone scored, have been working on transfers for the last fortnight and it will be a relief that they have finally completed their first deal.

Djilobodji, who can also play as a defensive midfielder, is a player Moyes had identified when he took over so he will be encouraged by the progress made by chief executive Martin Bain in a short space of time.

The 27-year-old has signed a four-year contract on Wearside, just 12 months after he moved to Chelsea from Nantes.

He spent the second half of last season on loan at Werder Bremen when he helped them secure Bundesliga safety. He has been capped 13 times by Senegal.

Djilobodji told www.safc.com: "I'm so happy to join Sunderland, I believe we are going to do something this year.

"Sunderland Football Club is a big club, a big team, with big fans.

"We are going to do our best to give the fans what they deserve.

"The coach (Moyes) called me yesterday and I was so happy, we are going to work to improve."

Moyes is still working on more deals but he also knows he faces a battle to keep Kone.

Sunderland are well aware of the interest in the African defender and are prepared to hike up his weekly wage in a bid to keep him at the Stadium of Light.

But Everton’s financial clout could make it difficult, with Toffees boss Ronald Koeman assured that he has the cash to spend from owner Farha Moshiri.

And if John Stones completes his expected move to Manchester City this summer then that could arm Everton with a further £50m to use on transfers.

Koeman has already increased an offer to Swansea for Ashley Williams and it is understood Sunderland have knocked back Everton’s advances once already.

However, Everton are keen to get their man and sources close to the Merseyside outfit claim they will offer a whopping £17m for a centre-back who has only been on Wearside since January.

Sunderland paid £6m to Lorient for his services after a two-month chase led by Sam Allardyce, who has since gone on to take over England.

Moyes, though, is not able to lose more players because his focus is on strengthening rather than weakening a squad.

That is why he has instructed Sunderland to improve the contract he only signed at the beginning of the year and it still has four more years to run.

Kone was outstanding in Sunderland’s successful fight to beat relegation in the second half of last season and ended up forming a strong partnership with French defender Younes Kaboul.

Sunderland also have the experienced John O’Shea to call on but Moyes knows he needs more options going into the new season.

Sunderland are due to open their Premier League season with a trip to Manchester City next Saturday and they are looking to add to the squad further.

Moyes yesterday allowed Will Buckley – who has never been in the club’s plans since Gus Poyet’s exit – to join Sheffield Wednesday on loan for the season.

The winger has teamed up with former Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher at Hillsborough. Midfielder Liam Bridcutt is expected to be the next to leave and talks are ongoing with Leeds United to strike a deal for a player with just 12 months remaining on his contract.

Moyes has been confident all week that he would have new additions in sooner rather than later and he will want more to follow Djilobodji to the club.

Yann M’Vila, the French midfielder who spent last season on Wearside, is on the verge of a return after Rubin Kazan accepted that he will leave, while Tottenham full-back DeAndre Yedlin is another probable arrival. Steven Pienaar is training with the club as a free agent.