Exit of Everton target Kalajdzic in doubt with contract talks set
Stuttgart are set to hold talks with forward Sasa Kalajdzic in order to stave off Premier League interest in the player, with Everton reportedly keen.
The 23-year old has been in fine form for the Bundesliga side this season, scoring 15 times in all competitions for Stuttgart while also registering five assists. [Transfermarkt]
His domestic form has seen him earn admirers across Europe, with TuttoMercatoWeb affiliate TuttoJuve claiming Everton, Newcastle and RB Leipzig are keen on doing summer business.
TuttoJuve also claimed that Kalajdzic has a valuation of around £17million (€20million) this summer, which would prove affordable for most top-flight clubs that are interested.
However Stuttgart director Sven Mislintat, speaking to Sport BILD, has declared the club’s intention to open talks over extending his contract with the club.
Mislintat said: “We know how good he is. We will hold talks with Sasa by the summer at the latest, either before or after the European Championships.
“It is not that we are currently throwing peanuts at Sasa. If he plays a lot and plays well, he can already grow financially. There are opportunities for improvement within his current contract.
“Sasa is completely relaxed. He also knows how we stood by him when he was injured (with an ACL rupture). We didn’t sign anyone for his position, we always believed in him. He’s giving it to us now back with heart and soul.”
Forward option
Described by Fabrizio Romano as an ‘amazing player’ [Give Me Sport, 29/03/21], Kalajdzic has been impressive in the Bundesliga this season.
Stuttgart find themselves in mid-table and that is in no small part due to the form of the Austrian forward, with his 14 Bundesliga goals providing the German club with a huge boost.
Everton could find themselves in the market for a striker this summer, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin needing support and with the long-term futures of both Josh King and Moise Kean appearing uncertain.
Everton have been fairly tenuously linked with Kalajdzic, as have Tottenham and Newcastle, but Carlo Ancelotti and Marcel Brands often hold their cards close to their chests regarding their transfer targets.
Should the Blues decide that they wish to pursue a forward this summer they could do much worse than Kalajdzic, whose goalscoring record this season (which largely mirrors that of Calvert-Lewin) speaks for itself.
In other Everton news, club is willing to sell Everton target, fee established for ‘absolute predator’.
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