Everton linked with 9-goal forward, but move raises question
It’s summer and Everton transfer rumours abound. One of the more intriguing is the one involving USA striker Daryl Dike. The powerful and pacy Dike spent part of last season on loan at Championship playoff squad Barnsley. The 20-year-old US international impressed.
In only his second professional season, he scored 9 goals in 19 games for Barnsley as they reached the playoff semifinals, before losing to Swansea. That kind of numbers attracted the attention of a number of suitors, reportedly including Everton.
According to Teamtalk, Dike is valued at £17 million with a 20 percent sell-on clause. Everton has an interest in the 20-year-old, who has been likened to former Toffee striker Romelu Lukaku. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is emerging as a top-class striker, but he didn’t get much support scoring-wise. The Toffees wants to challenge for the top spots and to do that, a bigger squad will be needed.
The Royal Blues have a good history with US players, including Tim Howard, who gained near-legend status in a long career as well as Landon Donovan, perhaps the best known US player.
Daryl Dike signing will allow Everton to expand their market in USA
Dike’s signing would align with Everton’s goal to grow in the US market. When James Rodriguez signed in 2020, Everton advertised in New York City and Miami as well as Bogata, the Colombian capital.
The club’s marketing guru Richard Kenyon was quoted in marketing publication Prolific North,
"The announcement of James Rodriguez as an Everton player is, of course, a huge moment for us in terms of growing our international profile particularly, in the US and South America."
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Dike was born in Oklahoma, where American football is king and in fact, the entire royal family in most people’s eyes. Dike does come from a football family with his brother and sister playing at high levels. Plus despite his size (6-11/2) (181 pounds), his mother didn’t want him to take to the gridiron.
Dike earned a scholarship to the University of Virginia and was picked by Orlando in the supplemental MLS draft.
Daryl Dike signing poses questions on Ellis Simms’ future
However, if Dike does become a Blue, it raises the question of Ellis Simms’ future.
Simms has risen through the youth ranks at Everton scoring freely at every level, before moving on loan to Blackpool, where his goals helped propel the Seasiders into the Championship via the playoffs, including a brace in the first leg 3-0 victory against Oxford. Simms missed the final, but Blackpool came back to beat Lincoln, 2-1.
Simms said he was unsure of his future in an interview with Sky Sports as reported in the Liverpool Echo.
In Simms’ favour would be no transfer fee, if he signs a new deal with the Blues. With a number of candidates for the open manager’s spot, transfer activity is on hold. Perhaps a key for strikers will be the status of Duncan Ferguson, who has worked with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and helped turn the centre forward into an England regular.
Next. Everton to initiate talks with 47 year old manager with Premier League experience. dark
Will the make a move for Daryl Dike?