Daniel Lewis

Tue 22 August 2023 18:10, UK

Everton are so far the only team to have had a bid accepted by Paris Saint-Germain for in-demand forward Hugo Ekitike, according to Sports Zone.

The French news outlet reported earlier this month that Everton had agreed an upfront fee of €35million (£29.8m), plus €5m (£4.3m) in add-ons, for the 21-year-old.

In an update provided on Tuesday [22 August], Sports Zone tweeted that, despite interest from West Ham and Monaco, the Toffees’ offer remains the only one to have so far been accepted.

West Ham are said to still be negotiating with the French heavyweights, while Monaco could up their interest should Folarin Balogun not join from Arsenal.

Complicated

PSG only exercised the obligation clause to take Ekitike on a permanent deal from Reims earlier this summer in a €28.5m (£24.3m) deal, having joined on loan during the 2023-24 campaign – and he clearly has not done enough to convince the Parisians to keep him on their books.

If the France U20 international’s future was not already complicated enough, a separate report emerged on Tuesday [22 August] suggesting certain Everton board members are attempting to block the move [Football Transfers].

The Toffees could really do with a couple of new strikers, though, and with Che Adams seemingly set to join from Southampton [Paul Brown], Ekitike would certainly get supporters excited.

Three Ligue 1 goals last season was hardly a breathtaking return, but the youngster was not given a run of starts. The 10 league goals scored for Reims the season prior offers a better indication of his true quality.

The situation behind the scenes at Goodison Park has complicated matters, however, and it remains to be seen whether Everton will pursue the move, even if an offer has been accepted.

With a little over a week of the window left to run, do not be surprised to hear more on this saga in the coming days.

In other Everton news, the Toffees’ proposed move for another talented foreign youngster appears to be off the cards.