So, this is it. The final chance for Ronald Koeman to splurge the £100 million war chest that he was presented with by Everton’s new owner Farhad Moshiri at the beginning of the summer. At times it has resembled a Scouse version of ‘Brewster’s Millions’, with the Everton boss seemingly doing all he can to spend money but failing to do so at every single turn.
The Toffees have been linked with a myriad of players from across the globe this summer, but thus far have only completed four new signings. All have impressed so far but the point is that Everton fans expected more from this summer and it appears as though Koeman had similar expectations, admitting this week that he would be disappointed if he was unable to add to his squad before the transfer window closes tonight.
Algerian winger Yacine Brahimi is one player heavily tipped to complete a switch to Goodison Park today, with the 26-year-old reportedly in the UK in order to seal the move before tonight. The forward’s current club, FC Porto, are thought to be demanding £35 million for the player but with Everton not willing to pay so much for the player, Koeman will hope that a compromise can be reached before the end of the day.
Despite already signing Yannick Bolasie this month, the Toffees are still keen to strengthen their attacking options, and, Brahimi, who joined Porto for £5 million from Granada in 2014, seems to be the player that they have set their sights on. The report in the Guardian claims that is expected to undergo a medical at Finch Farm later today ahead of his impending transfer.
Meanwhile, it may have been quiet on the Lamine Kone front in recent days, but the Daily Mirror claim that the deal is still potentially on, providing Sunderland can sign a replacement before the day is up.
The Ivory Coast international has been pursued by Everton all summer, with an £18 million bid already having been rejected. However, the report claims that if the Black Cats can pull off the signing of Liverpool’s Mamadou Sakho then that would pave the way for Kone to make his long-awaited move to Goodison Park.
Finally, one deal that has already been confirmed is Shani Tarashaj’s season-long loan move to Eintracht Frankfurt. The 21-year-old Swiss international only joined Everton from Grasshopper Zurich in January but will spend 2016/17 in the Bundesliga.
Tarashaj will count himself unlucky that he is not part of the first team picture at Goodison this season, with Romelu Lukaku and Arouna Kone the club’s only recognised senior strikers. The fact that the club were willing to allow Tarashaj to be farmed out suggests that they must be confident that another striker will arrive later today in order to lighten the burden on Lukaku this season.
Featured image: all rights reserved by Paul Clayton