With just four days of the transfer window remaining, it is expected to be a busy few days at Goodison Park after Everton boss Ronald Koeman admitted last week that he was still hoping to bring in a few more players. Following a flurry of transfer activity within the space of a week, it has been two weeks since the Toffees brought in Yannick Bolasie, the club’s last confirmed signing.
This however, is expected to change this week, with reports over the weekend linking Everton to a number of targets. First, is Porto forward Yacine Brahimi, who was originally linked with a move to Merseyside last week. The Daily Mirror claim that the Blues are closing in on signing the Algerian international after holding further talks with the Portuguese club over the last few days.
The report claims that the Blues’s opening bid of £25.5 million was turned down, with Porto holding out for £35 million. Despite this, Everton remain confident that a compromise can be reached for the 26-year-old, who is yet to feature for his current club this season.
Brahimi has impressed since joining Porto from Granada in 2014, scoring 20 times in 77 appearances in all competitions. Despite his goal record, it is his dribbling ability that has won him many admirers around the continent. A move to a Champions League club was thought to be on the cards but with just days of the window remaining, a move to Goodison Park may be his best option if he is desperate to leave Portugal this summer.
Meanwhile, reports in the Telegraph this weekend claim that Everton are vying with Crystal Palace for wantaway Newcastle United midfielder Moussa Sissoko.
The 27-year-old is desperate to leave St. James’ Park and is yet to feature for the Magpies this season. However, despite impressing for France in this summer’s European Championship, the £35 million asking price that Newcastle have placed on Sissoko seems to be the major stumbling block in getting him the move that he desires. Plenty of clubs have been linked, most notably Real Madrid, and there are sure to be a couple of managers enquiring about the possibility of a cut-price deal over the coming days.
Koeman is believed to be one of these. Despite the arrival of Bolasie, the Blues still appear to be in the market for another attacking midfielder, with Sissoko one of a number of players that the club are reportedly keeping tabs on. For the right price, the Frenchman would be a very good addition to Everton’s midfield; that is, if Koeman can get him playing as he did for his country and not how he performed in the Premier League last season, where he was largely anonymous as the Magpies were relegated.
Finally, the rumours of James McCarthy leaving Goodison appear to have legs, with the Daily Mail reporting that the Republic of Ireland international has told Everton officials that he wishes to leave the club in order to get more regular game time.
Koeman has favoured Idrissa Gueye and Gareth Barry in central midfield so far this season with it looking as though McCarthy will be used less regularly this campaign. The 25-year-old was linked with a move to Celtic last week, but if reports this morning are to be believed, then Newcastle are set to open the bidding for the former Wigan Athletic man.
It is far from a one-horse race for the player, though, with Leicester City, Sunderland and Crystal Palace reportedly having expressing an interest in signing the midfielder, who is currently valued at around £20 million by Everton. McCarthy was left out of the squad for the Blues 1-0 win over Everton yesterday, only adding further fuel to stories of his imminent departure.
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