Everton target Brereton-Diaz ‘will move’ to Premier League this summer

Blackburn Rovers forward Ben Brereton-Diaz is going to leave the Lancashire club this summer, according to media reports, leaving Everton with a chance to secure his signature.

Everton have been strongly linked with a move for the Chilean international before this summer transfer window closes on Thursday.

It is clear – as Saturday’s game at Brentford reinforced – that despite the signing of Neal Maupay the Toffees’ will need additional attacking support to deliver more absolutely needed goals.

Now, this report from the Daily Express says that the 23-year-old Blackburn man will leave Ewood Park this summer for pastures new as he has refused to sign a new contract.

Brereton-Diaz is a player who I think should be seriously considered by the Blues’ among other potential targets as the days and hours tick on towards the end of the window.

Other Premier League clubs are also said to be interested in the forward including tomorrow night’s opponents Leeds and Newcastle United.

At the same time there is continuing reports that Everton may well still consider selling Anthony Gordon to Chelsea before the window closes, although the chances of that deal happening are receding as the days go by.

Part of a possible transfer for Gordon is the inclusion of current Chelsea youngsters Conor Gallagher and Armando Broja in any deal with the Toffees’.

Broja is a player that Frank Lampard has long been keen on bringing to Goodison Park if he can. The arrival of the Albanian international would be a positive move as he is a talented, powerful young centre-forward.

I think it’s likely that Lampard is holding out to get Broja and this is why potential moves for other forwards such as Brereton-Diaz.

I do fear this strategy, if it is the plan, to wait and see whether a deal for the former Southampton loanee can be concluded by the deadline of the transfer window.

This is a risky approach though as it’s poerfectly possible that time will run out before such a deal can be done leaving Everton without the additional forward desperately needed.