El Bilal Toure transfer race ‘done and sealed’ after Everton vs Atalanta battle as Fabrizio Romano shares ‘here we go’ Thursday
El Bilal Touré’s move to Atalanta over Everton is “done and sealed” after the Italian club “closed the agreement” with Almeria on Thursday, Fabrizio Romano reports.
The Serie A club looked to be in the ascendency for the 21-year-old striker before a late push from Goodison Park, but the Toffees have come up short.
Paul Joyce had reported in The Times on Wednesday night (26 July) that despite confidence from Atalanta the deal was theirs Everton were still “adamant they are neck and neck” with a £24million fee agreed, but Romano’s latest update appears to have closed the door with the final price totalling £26.5m after add-ons.
Reporting via Twitter on Thursday (27 July) he wrote: “Understand Atalanta have just closed the agreement with Almería for El Bilal Touré — done and sealed.
“Touré will undergo medical on Friday. €28m fixed fee, €3m in add ons. 15% sell on clause included. Atalanta will pay solidarity.
“Here we go, confirmed.”
Close second
Everton look like they put up a good fight so it is encouraging that they believe they can win a heated transfer battle for relatively big money still, despite the well-documented financial concerns.
But ultimately being unsuccessful leaves them in the same place, and with less time remaining in the window to rectify the matter.
Sean Dyche needs a striker unless Dominic Calvert-Lewin can miraculously avoid any more injury set backs, and even then the significant drop off to Neal Maupay suggests a back up is required anyway.
With Ellis Simms sold and Tom Cannon possibly on the way out it is just Lewis Dobbin left otherwise, and the 0-0 friendly stalemate with Bolton on Tuesday suggests that won’t suffice.
The list of misses in the transfer market as the Toffees have sought a new striker is longer than anyone would like to see, and with Moussa Dembele the latest linked option to come off the market after joining Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq on Wednesday the margin for error is narrowing.
The Touré push suggests there is money to spend to some extent so Dyche and Kevin Thelwell need to identify the next best option and get Bill Kenwright’s negotiating skills to work.
In other Everton news, two new European clubs want to sign an “impressive” Toffees ace this summer.