Sundaerlnd transfer latest as Everton’s Ellis Simms set for Coventry
COVENTRY City look set to win the race to sign Everton’s Ellis Simms this summer, with the striker in advanced negotiations with Sunderland’s Championship rivals.
He’ll replace outgoing Viktor Gyokeres, who is close to finalising his switch to Sporting Lisbon.
Coventry are said to have agreed to pay between £6m and £8m for Simms, who impressed in the Championship on loan at Sunderland in the first half of last season.
the Black Cats wou have been interested in bringing the 22-year-old back to the Stadium of Light this summer but were never going to get involve dld in a bidding war, which was always likely when interest emerged from the Sky Blues, Ipswich Town and Swansea City.
Simms only has 12 months left on his Everton deal so the Toffees have decided to cash in now rather than risk losing him on a free next summer. Sean Dyche is prioritising adding to his forward line this summer so game-time would have been hard to come by for Simms at Goodison Park next season.
Simms scored seven Championship goals for Sunderland in the first half of last season before being recalled by Everton at the start of the January window.
While Sunderland have been closely monitoring the Simms situation, the Black Cats acknowledged that a return to Wearside has looked increasingly unlikely in recent weeks and have turned their attention elsewhere as they look to bolster the forward line.
Sunderland have enjoyed a productive summer transfer window so far and did strengthen up-front with the capture of Luis Semedo, but bringing in a more experienced striker remains a priority.
Ross Stewart isn’t expected to be fit for the start of the season leaving 19-year-old Semedo as the only striker on the club’s books.
Boss Tony Mowbray said last week: “I’m hoping there’s still a few more new faces to come into the building. We could probably do with some help up the top end of the pitch.
“If you think that Ross isn’t quite ready yet, then we’ve only really got young Hemir Luis Semedo, but he is still a boy, and it’s a lot of burden for him to be the only senior striker that we’ve got.
“We could probably do with some help at the top end of the pitch over the next few weeks, and I’m sure we’re working very hard behind the scenes on that.”
