With the potential sale of Anthony Gordon looking more and more likely, it means Frank Lampard could have some serious funds to enter the transfer market before the window closes.
The Everton boss will also have some serious wages freed up, as Besiktas confirm Dele Alli is due to fly to Istanbul on Wednesday evening, to complete the details of a proposed loan deal.
Lampard himself confirmed on Tuesday evening that an agreement had been reached, and that could give him around £100,000 a week in wages to use to tempt reinforcements. The manager has made no secret of what he wants before the window closes at the end of August.
Asked at the weekend if he had made clear to his club’s owner Farhad Moshiri he wants and NEEDS a striker, he replied bluntly: “Yeah.” And he repeated that theme on Tuesday evening after the EFL Cup win at Fleetwood, when he said: “Look, it’s clear and obvious we need to improve in the final third, and we need to strengthen there - it’s no secret.”
The Blues boss now has precisely a week to do just that - even though he (perhaps predictably, given he doesn’t want clubs alerted to the fact Everton could have serious cash from any Gordon deal) suggested bringing in a striker isn’t dependent on the sale, saying: “We don’t need Anthony to go, no (to allow us to bring in another player).” A forward to replace the lost goals of injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the obvious necessity, but the Blues have been in concrete talks over two positions away from the centre forward role. With that in mind, Mirror Sport runs the rule over the potential transfers Everton could pull off in the final week of the window, as the deadline looms.
Idrissa Gana Gueye
Talks have been ongoing for more than a fortnight now, with Everton frequently reassured by his club Paris Saint-Germain that the deal, a free transfer in essence, will happen. But it hasn’t yet, because of a severance payment the midfielder feels he’s owed, and the latest reports suggest terms of the deal may have to be re-negotiated, or scrapped altogether.
James Garner
With problems in finalising the deal for the former Evertonian Gueye, Everton have turned their midfield attentions towards an alternative, as they cast their eye over the Manchester United starlet. He’s a Merseyside born midfielder with a touch of class, who’s made three appearances for United. But he shone while on loan for promoted Nottingham Forest over the past season and a half, and United are reported to have set an asking price of around £15m, which would be in Everton’s price range, but there could be competition from Spurs and Forest, which makes for a tricky deal.
Mohammed Kudus
Another target in a different position…and another where there have been lengthy discussions with the player’s club, Ajax, and Everton were convinced they had a deal to sign the 22-year-old Ghana international on loan for the season. The wide player or number 10 was due to travel to Merseyside for a medical and the contract formalities, but at the 11th hour it seems his Dutch club pulled the club, after Manchester United resurrected their interest in Ajax winger Anthony. Boss Alfred Schreuder, who replace Erik ten Hag at the Amsterdam club, explained the stance when he said: “I think he should not leave. You can see that he is important. We need a lot of good players.”
HAVE YOUR SAY! Who should Everton sign before the transfer window closes? Let us know in the comments section
Che Adams
And so on to forwards - Lampard’s greatest need. There has been an approach for the Southampton forward, but his price tag of around £20m is prohibitive for a player who has scored only 25 goals for Saints. Problem is though, FOUR of those have come in his last two games, as he proved the match-winner against Leicester and then Cambridge. Southampton may want to hold onto him after all, or at least bung up the price, so it could be tricky.
Armando Broja
In talks with Chelsea over Gordon, the name of 21-year-old striker Broja has been mentioned several times, though it is thought he is not top of the list that Lampard has presented to the Goodison club. He could be used as a sweetener though, with Conor Gallagher also mentioned in a potential loan deal. Lampared IS a big fan of the midfielder, and would take him on loan if available, but the negotiations are far from straightforward with other clubs interested.
Ollie Watkins
A surprise name, and VERY unlikely to happen. But there would be undoubted interest for a top class striker should he become available, amid some (frivolous) gossip that the England striker doesn’t always see eye to eye with boss Steven Gerrard. Word is though, that Aston Villa will not let him leave, and even if they did, the price tag would be similar, if not greater, than Chelsea’s offer for Gordon.
Ben Brereton-Diaz
Ripped it up in the Championship last season, and has shown his form again already this time around. Everton made a polite enquiry recently, and the fact that he has shown his goalscoring quality at international level with Chile (Stoke born, but qualifies through his mum) is a big bonus, given he has no Premier League experience. Only has a year left on his contract, and If price is right, could be one to watch.
