Everton's Patson Daka transfer would need Leicester City solution as striker duo updates emerge
Everton’s search for a striker could see them turn to Leicester City’s Patson Daka, according to reports.
A new forward has become a priority for the Toffees in the final few days of the transfer window amid Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s fresh injury, The i Paper report. And they list Brighton’s Evan Ferguson and City’s Daka as two potential targets.
They add that City would listen to offers for Daka amid concerns around Profit and Sustainability Rules. But it would be a surprise if City were willing to let Daka go without a striker arriving at the club.
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Since Ruud van Nistelrooy took charge, Daka has been City’s back-up to Jamie Vardy, featuring in all but one of the Dutchman’s 11 matches in charge. There is history there too, with van Nistelrooy admitting that he knew Daka well prior to joining because of the extensive scouting he did on the Zambian when trying to sign him for PSV Eindhoven.
City have already sold one striker this month, letting Tom Cannon go to Sheffield United for £10m, while they had been hoping to move Odsonne Edouard on in order to free up another Premier League loan slot. The Crystal Palace loanee has not played a single minute under van Nistelrooy.
While Vardy is playing far more minutes than expected at the age of 38, it would not be sensible to ask him to play a full match every week, and across all competitions. In that sense, City need a decent back-up striker. While there are still question marks over Daka’s ability at Premier League level, he is at least a willing runner, and so can provide a burst of energy.
City ‘drop out’ of Akpom race
One of the options that had emerged as a potential new striker for City was Ajax’s Chuba Akpom. He is getting set to leave the Dutch giants and reports in the Netherlands had said City were a contender for his signature.
Now, De Telegraaf, who originally reported City’s interest, say that they have dropped out of the race to bring him in. Akpom, who finished as the Championship’s top scorer with Middlesbrough a couple of seasons ago, has a choice between Fiorentina, Lille, and Sunderland, it’s said.
Edouard increasingly likely to stay
There did previously look like a possibility that Edouard would be taken off City’s hands without them having to pay to cancel his loan switch. But that opportunity now looks like it has passed.
MLS side Atlanta United had Edouard on their list of targets, but only as an alternative to first-choice Emmanuel Latte Lath. And it seems they have their man, agreeing a £22.5m transfer with Boro for the Ivorian. Once that deal is over the line, it likely ends their interest in Edouard.
