Everton to hijack Southampton bid to sign Mislav Orsic, Nottingham Forest also in pursuit
Everton could swoop in and hijack Southampton’s bid to sign Dinamo Zagreb winger Mislav Orsic, according to Germanijak journalist Izak Ante Sucic.
The 30-year-old has been a key target for the Saints in January with Nathan Jones keen to sign a winger but they have failed to reach a price worthy of the Croatian champions accepting.
As a result, Everton have now moved into the effective lead of the race for his signature after playing for Croatia at the World Cup but Nottingham Forest also want a piece of the action.
“As per our sources, Mislav Orsic and Southampton, deal is off!” Sucic said via his personal Twitter account. “It looks like their 2nd offer was also way too low. Right now, it looks like Everton could ‘hijack’ this deal! Nottingham Forest is also interested!”
Step up
As good as Anthony Gordon, Demarai Gray and Dwight McNeil could be one day, none of them are really at a level right now that can keep Everton in the Premier League.
Orsic is there having been a sensation for Zagreb in the Champions League, scoring the winner against Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea back in August and then again a week later at the San Siro against AC Milan.
That kind of CV is highly impressive no matter the team he is playing for and the Toffees are well aware that he would be an upgrade on what they currently have at Goodison Park.
Frank Lampard’s desperation for attacking reinforcements should see the board act fast to get this one over the line as his job as manager currently hangs by a thread and any chance of survival could come down to winning these transfer battles.
The Saints may well come back in with an even bigger offer but with them seemingly out of the running, the door is wide open for Everton to burst in and take Orsixc to Merseyside this month.