Bill Foley link looms large as Bournemouth enter Dango Ouattar talks after Everton make £17.6million bid
Bournemouth owner Bill Foley holds a key advantage after the Cherries entered talks for hotshot Everton target Dango Ouattara.
The Toffees have already made an offer of €20million [£17.6million] for the 20-year-old winger [Foot Mercato, 8 January] and negotiations are reportedly ongoing with Lorient.
But amid multiple reports of the south coast club arriving into the race on Tuesday morning, there is reason to be concerned about Everton’s chances of landing the Burkino Faso international, with Foley close to buying the French club as well.
talkSPORT reported via their Twitter account on Tuesday morning (10 January): “BREAKING: Bournemouth are hoping to sign Lorient winger Dango Ouattara.
“Cherries’ owner Bill Foley is on the verge of taking over Lorient, where Ouattara has scored 6 goals in 41 league games – talkSPORT sources understand.”
Sky Sports man Mark McAdam then reported on Twitter: “Bournemouth are one of a number of Premier League sides chasing Lorient winger Dango Ouattara.
“The 20 year old has scored 5 goals in 16 Ligue 1 appearances this season having made his debut August 2021.
“Talks happening between the two clubs…”
Frank Lampard is in desperate need of a spark in attack and the young winger, who has five goals and five assists from 16 appearances in the French top flight this season looks like he could provide it.
If the reported offer from Everton, and the ongoing talks, are accurate then it would appear the club are serious about landing him.
But, even though the Toffees seem to have jumped ahead of the pack to sign Ouattara the presence of Bournemouth might render that moot.
While a transfer between Lorient and the Cherries is theoretically separate from American businessman Foley’s moves to take control of both sides, it has the potential to give his Premier League club the inside tack.
It will be a major disappointment to Lampard and Kevin Thelwell if they were in a strong position in negotiations for a player who could help kickstart the attack, only to be gazumped by a league rival whose owner’s business interests gives them a stronger chance.
That is especially the case when club ownership is such a point of contention on Merseyside with Farhad Moshiri’s reign deeply unpopular.