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Everton to sign new striker?

By Matt Townsend

REGGIO NELL'EMILIA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: Michy Batshuayi of Borussia Dortmund in action during UEFA Europa League Round of 32 match between Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund at the Mapei Stadium - Citta' del Tricolore on February 22, 2018 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)
REGGIO NELL'EMILIA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: Michy Batshuayi of Borussia Dortmund in action during UEFA Europa League Round of 32 match between Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund at the Mapei Stadium - Citta' del Tricolore on February 22, 2018 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images) /
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The paper talk today involving Everton, centres on stories that the Blues might be moving to sign the on-loan Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi.

The Belgian is currently at Valencia in Spain but has had a difficult time there and the Spanish club are terminating his loan deal amid allegations he has fallen out with the coach. So in theory Everton would be able to sign him.

This background though doesn’t fill you with a great deal of confidence about the player and in truth he has hardly made any impact in La Liga.

However Batshuayi did provide evidence of some talent and promise when he got a chance at Chelsea. In the 2016-17 season he scored 5 goals including the one that won Chelsea the title. He does also have a pretty good shooting accuracy and can finish with either his left or right foot.

These are not exactly earth-shattering statistics for sure. And Batshuayi does seem to be a very raw and inconsistent striker. He’s also though not had a proper, sustained opportunity at Stamford Bridge and has moved about a lot.

However he also has similarities with another quick, powerful young Belgian centre-forward the Toffees signed from Chelsea; Romelu Lukaku.

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Lukaku was certainly not the finished product when then Everton manager Roberto Martinez brought him to Goodison Park at first on loan in 2013. Although he had just played a season, again on loan, at West Bromwich Albion and scored 17 goals.

He went on to become a success at the Blues before his big-money move to Manchester United in 2017.

So the question is would signing Batshuayi represent a good, worthwhile deal for Everton? I think the key question is how much would he cost. If the Blues are going to get the young forward on-loan or for something like £15 million that would probably be a reasonable deal.

He’s a still relatively unproven but I think talented player with potential and he would be the sort of player Marco Silva seems to want up front.

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