Everton ‘sales pitch’ must be ‘spot on’ to sign Paris Saint-Germain striker Hugo Ekitike – Dean Jones
Everton will have to possess a spot on “sales pitch” if they are to convince Paris Saint-Germain striker Hugo Ekitike to join the club this summer, claims Dean Jones.
The former Eurosport journalist told Give Me Sport (11 August) that other clubs around Europe will have the “unbelievable” forward on their summer wishlist but Everton must still take a chance on him because of his huge potential.
Fabrizio Romano reported via Twitter on 9 August that the club had “concrete interest” in the young Frenchman and later followed up that the Ligue 1 giants wanted a “total package” worth €35million [£30m].
Jones, speaking to GiveMeSport said: “Ekitike could be a blinding deal and from a player perspective, the hunger and motivation to play and score goals will be huge.
It will have been difficult to resist the lure of PSG but imagine what he’s learned from playing back-up to Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar!
“This is a player with unbelievable scouting reports from his early years in the game and when Newcastle United were looking at him, they really considered that he could be one of the best strikers around within a few years.
“If there is one team right now that should be willing to take a chance on anyone who has such potential, it has to be Everton. The sales pitch to get him to join is going to have to be absolutely spot on, because he has other offers out there too.”
Everton face Euro fight
The Toffees interest in Ekitike is certainly a sign of their refreshing intentions in the transfer market this summer, with the club also targeting the likes of Leeds ace Wilfried Gnonto to follow up their Youssef Chermiti and Arnaut Danjuma additions.
Ekitike could indeed represent another “blinding” transfer for the Goodison Park faithful considering the potential and current attacking class the 21-year-old possesses in his weaponry.
Ekitike was actually on loan at PSG from Reims last season and struggled for regular minutes due to the plethora of talent in front of him in Messi, Mbappe and Neymar, scoring three goals and registering four assists in the league, still contributing positively as another title came their way.
And his struggles at Paris Saint-Germain certainly won’t derail potential suitors around Europe, in fact, it will draw them to him for which Jones is absolutely right, Everton face a tough fight on their hands to sign the talented young striker and their sales pitch certainly has to be top-notch to convince him to join.
If the club manage to convince, it could indeed turn out to be one of the deals of the summer, when was the last time we heard that in the blue half of Merseyside?
In other Everton news, one key Dyche player has been declared fit to feature in their Premier League opener against Fulham on Saturday 12 August.