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Everton can still get royal striker

By Matt Townsend

OSLO, NORWAY - OCTOBER 08: Joshua King of Norway looks on during the UEFA Euro qualifier Semi-Finals between Norway v Serbia at Ullevaal Stadion on October 8, 2020 in Oslo, Norway. (Photo by Trond Tandberg/Getty Images)
OSLO, NORWAY - OCTOBER 08: Joshua King of Norway looks on during the UEFA Euro qualifier Semi-Finals between Norway v Serbia at Ullevaal Stadion on October 8, 2020 in Oslo, Norway. (Photo by Trond Tandberg/Getty Images) /
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With just a day to go before the extended domestic transfer deadline finally closes, Everton might still be able to get Bournemouth striker Joshua King for a much reduced fee.

This story has rumbled on for days with Everton being constantly linked with a late move for the Norway international forward.

The other club most often associated with a King transfer, was West Ham United. They were supposedly at one point close to signing him but then had their offer rejected.

And contradictory stories keep surfacing, with claims that the east London club had turned their attention to Brentford’s Said Benrahama and were no longer front-runners for the Norwegian.

Now it appears as though they have agreed a fee with the Bees for their Algerian striker and assuming this deal goes through, they presumably wouldn’t any longer be so determined to win the race for King’s signature.

One of the main issues making a deal for King unlikely was the fee that his club would demand. Despite their relegation, Bournemouth were still asking for around £20 million or so for the 28-year-old forward. Such a fee was putting off potential Premier League suitors.

That always seemed the sort of money that Everton were unlikely to consider paying after already shelling out over £60 million in buying Allan, Abdolaye Doucoure and Ben Godfrey, this summer.

I also argued that a move for someone like Ismaila Sarr might be the better alternative for the Blues, if they were going to do a late transfer deal for a new forward.

This though is very much a longer-term piece of business that would probably have to wait for the January transfer window or next summer if it’s to be done.

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Now though there are claims that the Cherries are willing to drop their price considerably so potentially facilitating a last-minute move for him, by someone.

I still think it’s very much 50-50 whether the Toffees will be the club that does do such a deal before the end of tomorrow’s transfer window, even for a much-reduced amount.

However, it would on balance be a better solution than not if the Blues could bring in another experienced, good quality forward who can offer cover for Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Otherwise Everton are going to be thin in terms of their resources up front. They would be relying on Cenk Tosun and teenager Ellis Simms as their reserves, neither of whom for different reasons, would represent an ideal option.

King has the versatility to play anywhere up front and given that and his Premier League experience, it would seem a pretty good deal to do, if it can be done and for around £10-15 million.

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