Everton transfer news: Sky Sports pundit reacts as £34m El Bilal Toure bid tabled in ‘surprise’ verdict
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
El Bilal Toure is an “expensive” target for Everton and an unproven one when they need somebody more “hardened” to come in and lead the line says Kevin Campbell.
Almeria managing director Mohamed El Assy confirmed to Diario de Almeria on 4 July that an official offer was on the table from Goodison Park, as well as two from Italy, with RMC Sport journalist Sacha Tavolieri reporting via Twitter on 3 July the bid was worth €40million [£34m] over a number of instalments.
The young Mali international has only scored 16 senior goals in Ligue 1 and La Liga so far and with Ellis Simms already being shipped out to Coventry one man who used to lead the Toffees’ line in Campbell wants to see more experience signed to do the same for Sean Dyche.
The Sky Sports pundit exclusively told Goodison News that the fee sounded high for a player of that stature, saying: “Yeah it does, it does sound it [a lot].
“You don’t know whether he’ll be able to adjust, he’s not mature enough yet potentially.
“But if you look at all the strikers that Everton have been linked with there’s a couple there who are experienced, who know what it’s like to play on these shores.
“This lad, he’s more expensive than all the others. And he’s 21 and hasn’t played on these shores.
“The bottom line is you’re going to have to put the money down on the table if you’re going to try and attract these guys.
“Do Everton have the money? I don’t know. I don’t think they do. So they’re going to have to move and shake.
“Will he be a priority? I’m not so sure he will be, but I might be proven wrong.
“A 21-year-old leading the line for Everton? Ellis Simms was there. He couldn’t do it. So to get somebody even younger than Ellis Simms to come in? Hmmm.
“I’m just not so sure, I think somebody a bit more mature, a bit more hardened, Premier League-ready might win the day.
“They might surprise me and go for it, but I just don’t see it.”
Everton certainly need someone to come in and boost their attack, and have been on the trail of the young striker for a year now as his value has exploded.
Sources at the club have reportedly denied El Assy’s reveal of the offer according to i News on Saturday (8 July), but while it would appear a sizeable risk to commit big money to a player that there are no guarantees will adapt to the Premier League it would be even more reckless to not add options at all.
Simms is gone, Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s fitness woes seem never-ending, and both the unproven Tom Cannon and the misfiring Neal Maupay are also linked with exits.
Cost-effective additions are surely the priority with multiple signings required, so the more of the transfer window that passes without anyone through the doors the edgier the Evertonians are going to get.
In other Everton news, a journalist has reported there is an affordable option available who is open to a Goodison move this summer.