View: Everton handed boost in race for Sardar Azmoun
Everton have been given a boost in their hunt for Iranian striker Sardar Azmoun in January after it emerged Lyon aren’t willing to match the asking price.
Azmoun is out of contract with Russian club Zenit St Petersburg at the end of the season and has been linked with a move to Lyon, Newcastle and Everton this month ahead of a potential January move.
Ligue 1 outfit Lyon were seen as the favourites, having reportedly agreed personal terms with the 26-year-old but according to Foot Mercato, the deal has hit a snag.
Reports suggest that their failure to go over £2.5million in a transfer fee for Zenit in January could scupper the deal and open up the opportunity for one of the two interested Premier League sides to step in.
The Iranian striker has scored 62 goals in 104 appearances for Zenit since joining them in 2019, including ten this season alone.
That tally would sit him top of the Everton scoring charts this season and their lack of goals without Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been a big problem this year.
Both strikers are very good in the air and strong finishers with either foot, so Benitez would be able to play them together or on their own.
His presence alone would be a huge boost to the side, who have really struggled for options in attack this season due to injury.
He adds goals, is a good age and would be available for a relatively low fee in comparison to other players with a similar record.
Everton should be paying close attention to this deal, knowing that any sort of improvement could help them out of their rut this season at Goodison Park.
They’d have an edge on Lyon financially and while they can’t compete with Newcastle on that front, they are the better-placed club in terms of their league position and standing as a club currently.
If they can get a deal done for ‘Iranian Messi‘, it would be in their best interests and would almost certainly give the fans a lift too.
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