With fears over Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s fitness after the England international suffered a training ground injury and Salomon Rondon still suspended, the spotlight on Everton’s search for a new striker has intensified but who might the Blues go for? Here’s a look at some of the potential candidates.
Armando Broja
After loan spells at Vitesse and then Southampton over the past couple of seasons, the Chelsea youngster could be farmed out again this term. The 20-year-old hit nine goals last term for the Saints, six of which came in the Premier League.
Born in Slough but an Albanian international through his parents, Broja had showdown talks with Thomas Tuchel earlier this summer before joining up late with his Chelsea team-mates for their USA tour and then leaving early to try and sort out his future. At one point he looked destined for West Ham United but they splashed out £30.5million on Sassuolo’s 6ft 5in Italian international Gianluca Scamacca instead and along with Everton, other touted destinations named have been as varied as Real Madrid and a return to St Mary’s.
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Maxwel Cornet
The versatile Burnley player has been linked with a potential move to Everton for several weeks and although at one point he appeared keen on a switch to Goodison Park, a move as of yet has still not materialised. With a £17.5million release clause, Cornet, who finished the Clarets top scorer with nine goals last term in what was his first season in English football, looks a tantalising prospect but nobody has stumped up the cash.
The likes of West Ham United, Newcastle United, Fulham and Nottingham Forest have all been named as being in the frame for the 25-year-old – who as well as playing up front can operate on the left wing and was deployed mostly as a full-back at Lyon – but it’s understood that if potential suitors are unwilling to pay the Ivory Coast international’s release fee up front in a single instalment, then Turf Moor chiefs could demand around £25million for his services.
Michy Batshuayi
Another player who Frank Lampard knows from his Chelsea days – he netted a winning goal for him at Ajax in the Champions League back in October 2019 – the Belgian international first came to Stamford Bridge from Marseille six years ago but has been loaned out on no fewer than five separate occasions. Two of those spells were with Premier League rivals Crystal Palace but he failed to set the world alight at Selhurst Park, especially during his second stint.
Now 28 and about to enter the final season of his current deal in west London, Batshuayi hit 14 goals for Besiktas last term, his best return since his pre-Chelsea days and while his name has been linked with Everton in recent days, much of the speculation seems to be coming from his end.
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