Everton transfer news: El Bilal Toure injury assurances given as Toffees chase forward ahead of Brentford amid Ivan Toney fears
Everton have been assured that striker target El Bilal Toure can make a “swift” recovery from a thigh muscle tear as they pursue the Malian striker, the Daily Mail reports.
The young Almeria forward has been out since mid-March after scoring six goals in 19 La Liga appearances and is of interest to both the Toffees and Brentford this summer, amid competing fears relating to either club’s respective main strikers.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s own injury issues have been extensive over the previous two seasons, and despite Sean Dyche playing an “absolute blinder” behind the scenes to get him to a new level of fitness [i News, 12 May] he was withdrawn at half-time of the 3-0 defeat by Manchester City on Sunday (14 May) as a “precaution”.
The Mail report that Brentford are concerned that Ivan Toney could be given a lengthy ban, after breaching betting rules [Sky Sports, 1 March], and are also looking at Toure.
The 21-year-old sustained his thigh injury during a 35km-per-hour sprint according to the Almeria team doctor.
According to the Mail: “Everton have been assured the 21-year-old can make an equally swift recovery but fans will be wary. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was taken off as a precaution against Manchester City on Sunday and without him Everton have carried little or no threat up front leaving them perilously close to the drop.”
Risk?
Toure clearly has talent and you don’t get multiple Premier League teams sniffing around for nothing, but given the injury woes for Calvert-Lewin during the two relegation battles it might be asking for trouble to spend on a replacement who is also injured currently.
Almeria would obviously be optimistic about their player recovering, and it is in their interest for him to do so if they are in line to sell him for big money.
There was reported interest during Frank Lampard’s reign last summer but Toure made a bargain move from Reims to Almeria for just €8million [£6.9million] and now has a release clause of €40million [£34.7million] according to GOAL in Spain on 20 April.
That is a steep mark up in any situation, and would represent a major missed opportunity a year ago when money was spent on Neal Maupay whose time at Everton has not worked out.
And while the youngster’s four goals in 13 international caps is a solid return it may be a risk to splash out on a player who has only scored 15 senior club goals in 88 appearances so far.
That doesn’t match the production of Toney or a fully-fit Calvert-Lewin, but he has clearly shown enough to attract plenty of interest from the Premier League with GOAL suggesting Wolves are also in the mix.