It is no mystery that Everton are looking to sign a striker this summer. Most of the transfer news originating these days sees the Toffees linked with strikers. The latest name to be associated with a move to Goodison Park is Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun.
Everton must have reliable goalscorers in their squad going into next season. One of the biggest reasons why EFC were in a relegation battle was their inability in the attack. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin injured, the Merseysiders operated most of the season without a recognized striker leading the front line.
Neal Maupay’s inconsistent displays did not help Everton’s case. Sean Dyche does not want to risk going into the next season without a potent forward, nor does he want to gamble on Calvert-Lewin’s fitness. EFC will look to sign two forwards this summer.
Everton in contact with Arsenal for Folarin Balogun
According to 90min, Arsenal have told the entourage of Balogun to find him a new club this summer. The Arsenal academy graduate spent the last season on loan at Stade Reims where posted some breathtaking numbers, catching the eye of many clubs across Europe. At Reims, the 21 year old netted 21 Ligue 1 goals in 37 games, becoming the joint fourth highest goal getter in the French league.
Balogun recently addressed his future and made it clear that he wouldn’t like to go on another loan. However, the 21 year old forward is unlikely to get a shot in the Arsenal first team. A permanent departure should be the most likely scenario with clubs already enquiring about the USMNT ace.
Balogun has rejected the chance to discuss a new contract and as a result his agents have been told to find a new club this summer. Everton have already made contact to sign the 21 year old but they are not the only English side to hold interest in Balogun. Crystal Palace, Fulham, West Ham United and Brentford are also admirers of the Arsenal striker but he won’t be available for cheap.
The Gunners value him at £30 million which could prove to be a stumbling block for the Toffees given their poorly maintained finances. LOSC Lille might consider Balogun as a Jonathan David replacement should he leave this summer. All in all, there is a long list of clubs that want Balogun’s signature.
Everton do not have the financial power to compete with the aforementioned clubs nor can they offer European football which some of the aforementioned clubs can.
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‘Get him’: Chris Sutton backs Everton to incredibly re-sign 30-year-old they sold in 2017
EVERTON SENT AN INTERESTING ROMELU LUKAKU TRANSFER MESSAGE AHEAD OF CHELSEA RETURN
Chris Sutton has told financial strugglers Everton to re-sign Romelu Lukaku this summer as he returns to Chelsea following his loan spell at Inter.
The 30-year-old donned the colours of Everton for a three-year period, scoring 87 goals from his 166 matches, before he was sold to Manchester United in 2017.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the main man up top for Everton, but once again, the Englishman struggled with injuries and could only play 17 Premier League games last season.
Added to that, Neal Maupay, following his transfer from Brighton last summer, only scored one Premier League goal, as his team narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.
It’s pretty obvious that the Merseyside club can’t go down that same road again, or else, they will get swallowed up, as Sutton told them to go and get Lukaku.
“If you are a top player and you want to play for a top club,” said Sutton. “Everton, a great history, which the club has, if you are a player looking at Everton for the last decade or so, but you would think that there are better options out there.
“Sean Dyche would have been thinking about this 24/7 about how to take that next step, with Calvert-Lewin, it’s so frustrating. We saw when he had a run towards the end of the season, the impact he can have. But Dyche can’t trust him. You have mentioned Maupay and it hasn’t happened for him. It doesn’t look like it will happen for him.
“Lukaku, go and get Lukaku. I have said Lukaku and I’ll say it again.”
Lukaku wants to leave Chelsea
After returning to Inter last summer, Lukaku had a mixed season, with injury, before the 2022 Qatar World Cup causing havoc on his form, both for club and country.
Things started to pick up after the turn of the year, including helping the Italian giants reach the Champions League final, but he wasn’t fit enough to start and he ended up missing a number of guilt-edge chances when he came on from the bench.
Nonetheless, Lukaku’s parent club is Chelsea, who have a big call to make on his future