Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce has challenged Lamine Kone to provide the solidarity at the back after spending 18 months tracking the defender.
Kone has played two games for the Black Cats now and has shone after his move from Lorient eventually came through.
Allardyce has attempted to sign Kone back in the summer of 2014 for West Ham United, but a fee couldn't be agreed between the two clubs.
Kone key to survival battle
The manager was well-aware of the situation with Kone last month and he reignited his desire because he saw the defender as the ideal signing to keep the Black Cats in the Premier League.
Kone said: "West Ham were interested when Sam Allardyce was in charge the summer before his last season, but they couldn't agree a deal with Lorient, so it didn't come to anything."
The Ivorian admitted Sunderland made an "attractive offer" and that "there were other clubs interested", though their interest in him was not "concrete".
Saturday's visit of Manchester United will prove to be a tough test once again, Allardyce's side will end a daunting run of three fixtures on Saturday with hopes of adding to the point they claimed last weekend.
Liverpool challenge tougher than City
Kone played his second game for Sunderland against Liverpool, and is sure to play his third against Manchester United at the weekend, but last weekend was tougher than his debut against Manchester City.
The defender claimed that the squad have the "sense" to be more solid all over the field, stating that they watched previous matches in attempt to understand each player.
"I think we've played two quite good game, I think I've done personally quite well in the two games," Kone said.
"We've probably not done as well as we'd hoped to have done with the goals and points," he added. "But I was really impressed with the performance against Manchester City."