Everton to move for ‘fantastic’ Che Adams after journalist moots January transfer
Everton could be set to make a January move to sign Che Adams after a transfer away from Southampton has been mooted.
The Toffees were desperate to land a deal for the Scotland international throughout the summer window, but they couldn’t agree on a fee with the Championship side [BBC Sport].
But speaking to GiveMeSport on Sunday (8 October), the former Eurosport journalist Dean Jones hinted that the 27-year-old, who his former boss Ralph Hasenhuttl referred to as “fantastic”, could leave the Saints in January and potentially open up the possibility of a move to Goodison Park.
“At the back of every person’s mind at Southampton, there will surely be the threat that Che Adams is going to look to leave again in January,” said Jones. “Or at least that there will be another offer for him to come in January because we know that he is a player capable of being in the Premier League right now.
“But, at the same time, he owes it to Southampton to be fully focused on this moment and improving so that he can repay what they’ve given him over the years by allowing him to have this platform.”
It’s unclear where Adams’ head is currently at but, given that he didn’t try and force through a move to Everton, that suggests he isn’t pushing to leave St Mary’s.
That could change, however, if Southampton aren’t involved in the promotion picture by the time that the January window comes around.
Their form under new boss Russell Martin has been quite patchy in the opening stages of this campaign, having gone unbeaten in their first four Championship games before then going on to lose the next four.
They have steadied the ship slightly over the past couple of weeks, though, after a three-game unbeaten run has moved them to within one point of the playoff places.
Having scored in the first three fixtures of the campaign, Adams has now gone six matches without a goal, so he will have to rediscover his early-season form if he wants to earn a move back to the Premier League in January.
After the Blues were reluctant to bid more than £12million for the forward over the summer, it’s unlikely they will go beyond that price at the next available opportunity.
That means the player will almost certainly have to try and push through any potential move should any top-flight sides make their interest clear again.
The Toffees did secure the signing of Portuguese forward Beto over the summer for £25million from Udinese, meaning that Adams may no longer be on their radar.
But given that the 25-year-old is yet to register a goal in the Premier League, the Merseysiders may look to further strengthen their attacking options in a couple of months’ time.
The one major issue, however, could be the state of the club’s finances following years of mismanagement, suggesting that the agreed takeover by 777 Partners will have to go through by the New Year if they want to land the Saints striker.
There are a few obstacles that need to be overcome for Adams to make the move to Goodison, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the club go back in for him once January comes around.
In other Everton news, the club are set to make a “serious” move to sign a midfielder in the New Year.