Fabrizio Romano: Everton are scouting 14-goal striker Sasa Kalajdzic
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Everton are among a host of Premier League clubs scouting Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic.
Rumours are starting to fly ahead of the impending summer transfer window and with the Dominic Calvert-Lewin the only senior striking option at the club the Blues are in desperate need of extra firepower.
That could come in the shape of Kalajdzic whose 13 Bundesliga goals have propelled him to sixth in the top scorer charts and his newly-promoted side to ninth with eight games remaining. He’s scored 14 in all competitions.
Speaking to Give Me Sport [29/03/21] Romano was asked whether Everton, alongside Liverpool, West Ham and Newcastle United, were interested in the 23-year-old.
“I think yes,” he said.
“He has chances to join the Premier League, to be honest I don’t know about the club because all the clubs you mentioned are scouting this player, he’s an amazing player so they are looking at him.”
He added: “This type of summer with the pandemic we have obviously a difficult situation with the financial point of view having this kind of opportunity is interesting also for English clubs so I would say yes, he has an opportunity to go to the Premier League.”
DCL clone?
Kalajdzic has enjoyed a breakout season for Stuttgart to really put himself on the European map.
He joined them from Austrian outfit Admira Wacker in 2019 but suffered a torn cruciate ligament which prevented him from making his debut until May 2020.
That ensured he missed most of that campaign but he has burst into life this season.
According to Wyscout he is vastly outperforming his 0.51 xG with 0.76 goals per 90 in the Bundesliga and he also has three assists to his name.
Whether this is just a flash in the pan or an indicator of long-term high-level performance remains to be seen. It will probably require another season to truly test his abilities.
He’s not just deadly in front of goal, though. Kalajdzic is involved in 7.29 aerial duels per 90 – that’s enough to rank him 15th in the division [Wyscout].
A menace in the air and handy in front of goal, remind you of anyone?
These stats alone suggest he could be the perfect Dominic Calvert-Lewin back-up – now Everton must oust a host of Premier League rivals to secure his signature.
In other Everton news, Darren Bent issues big England snub to Jordan Pickford.