After somehow contriving to lose against Fulham at Goodison Park last weekend despite having the lion’s share of the chances, Everton have decided to address the many shortcomings in front of goal that almost cost them their Premier League status last season. Given Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s penchant for life in the treatment room, Neal Maupay’s inability to hit a cow’s backside with a banjo and the new signing Youssef Chermiti’s lack of Premier League fitness and experience, Sean Dyche is hoping to sign Ché Adams from Southampton, who are looking for a fee of £12m for the Scotland international.
Everton are also hopeful Kamaldeen Sulemana could come marching into their squad from Saints and have not given up hope of signing the Leeds winger Wilfried Gnonto, who is currently on strike and hell-bent on leaving Elland Road. The Porto wide man Gonçalo Borges is also getting the glad eye from the Toffees, who could face competition from West Ham in the race for the 22-year-old’s signature.
Nicknamed “the Belgian Flash”, because he comes from Belgium, is very fast and works out on a cosmic treadmill that allows him to travel backwards and forwards in time, the Rennes winger Jérémy Doku has no end of suitors in the Premier League. Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United and West Ham are all reported to be interested in signing the 21-year-old.
Unwanted at Tottenham despite having replaced Cristian Romero moments after the defender exacerbated a head injury by scoring against Brentford last weekend, Davinson Sánchez could be headed for Monaco, who have had a bid for the Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo rejected. Tottenham are also believed to be intrigued by the prospect of sending Sánchez and a large sum of money to the City Ground, in the hope that Nottingham Forest Brennan Johnson might be sent the other way in return. Chelsea are also eyeing up a move for the forward, now that Michael Olise has snubbed them in favour of signing a new four-year deal with Crystal Palace.
With five out-and-out wingers already on their books, vying for places in a lineup that early signs suggest may be using only one or sometimes none, you could be forgiven for presuming a certain club in west London would be trying to get rid of some of their touchline-hugging speed merchants rather than adding more. But this is Chelsea, who march to the beat of their own recruitment drum, so it’s no great shock they’re chasing Lyon’s Bradley Barcola. The 20-year-old was recently the subject of a failed £29.8m bid from Paris Saint-Germain. The Athletic reports that Nottingham Forest recently bid an identical amount for Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana.
And finally, Brighton are ready to make another foray into the South American market and have identified the Boca Juniors left-back Valentin Barco as their latest target. The 19-year-old, who featured in the Guardian’s Next Gen series two years ago, is reported to have an £8m release clause in his contract but Manchester City are reported to have made a significantly higher bid.
