Everton crash out of race to sign Viktor Gyokeres as transfer news drops
Everton look set to miss out on the signature of Viktor Gyokeres as the Coventry City playoff finalist closes in on a deal with Sporting Lisbon, according to Record.
The newspaper has reported in its print edition (3 July, page 7) that the Swedish international will complete a move to the Portuguese side possibly within hours, with the fee set to be £18.5million [Daily Mail].
With the Toffees dropping out of the race along with Fulham, Wolves, West Ham and Brentford, Everton are one of many Premier League sides to lose out on the prolific Championship forward.
Missed opportunity?
Gyokeres’ transfer away from Coventry seemed inevitable the moment Luton pipped them to Premier League promotion.
The Swede had more than proved himself in the second division with 41 goals across two seasons for the club, and now with promotion lost for Coventry, it seemed only a matter of time before he departed.
Sporting looked likely to secure his signature after negotiations with Coventry [TEAMtalk] despite interest from other Premier League sides including Fulham and West Ham.
Everton are in need of a striker after a league campaign that saw the side score just 34 goals. The valuation fee for the striker is one that they could have met and fans may be let down to have missed out on a prolific and affordable option that would fit the profile of a Dyche side.
That being said, Gyokeres could be a risky transfer as an unproven asset in the top flight. Dyche may be hoping for a return to form for striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin after his injury-laden campaign saw him make just 17 league appearances last season.
The player himself was also perhaps keen on a move away from England, as he chose the Portugusese side over a vast selection of English top-flight sides.
With Gyokeres seemingly off the table at Goodison Park, Everton have reportedly set their sights on Tottenham’s Arnaut Danjuma to add to their attacking ranks this summer.
In other Everton news, defensive ace sends out message to departing centre-back partner.