Everton interested in signing Mama Balde after Che Adams bid is rejected
Everton have turned their attention to Troyes forward Mama Balde after their bid for Che Adams was rejected by Southampton, according to Talk Sport.
The radio station reported on its website on Sunday (20 August) that the Toffees had identified the striker as a potential forward option this summer as Sean Dyche aims to add to his forward line before the transfer window closes.
Balde scored 12 goals in Ligue 1 last season and is a Guinea-Bissau international and would be the fourth addition to the frontline at Goodison Park this summer after Everton have already completed deals for Youseff Chermiti, Jack Harrison and Arnaut Danjuma.
Discussing a potential move for the striker, Alex Crook wrote: “Everton are interested in signing Troyes striker Mama Balde after seeing their £12million offer for Che Adams rejected. Burnley and Sheffield United are also in the running for Balde, who is believed to be available for around £7m.
“But Dyche remains keen on additions with Wilfried Gnonto a summer-long target. The most recent offer was worth £25m with add-ons, and Gnonto has since withdrawn from Leeds’ squad and handed in a transfer request. As their battle for Southampton star Adams appears to be bearing no fruit, Everton are turning their attention to Balde.”
An interesting prospect
The 27-year-old forward doesn’t appear to have been at the top of the Toffees shopping list this summer when they looked towards new striker targets, but with less than two weeks until the 1 September deadline, Dyche needs options quickly.
Balde is a seasoned international with 20 appearances for his national team, scoring twice and managing 16 goal involvements in just 30 starts in Ligue 1 last season so would offer a more obvious goalscoring prospect than Chermiti.
He is of slightly smaller stature, standing at 5ft 9, than both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Chermiti so would offer a different style of forward to what Everton already has at their disposal this season.
Balde hasn’t been particularly prolific throughout his career but for a reported £12m his goal return last year would represent a gamble worth taking for those in charge at Goodison Park this season as they aim to move away from the relegation zone.
Whether or not this move happens, or if it is just a story aiming to see Southampton drop their valuation of Adams is yet to be seen.
In other Everton news, there have been whispers of a new £250m bid for the ownership of the Toffees