Everton have a little over 72 hours to make signings in the winter transfer window. Anthony Gordon is set to join Newcastle for £40 million and Sean Dyche will soon be announced as the next Everton boss. The Toffees need to sign a replacement and Stade Rennais winger Kamaldeen Sulemana.
The Toffees need to bolster their attack as the lack of goalscoring has put them in serious trouble. Now, they also need to sign a competent replacement for Gordon who will be unveiled as the new Newcastle signing. The sale will bring £40 million to the Everton coffers and this money must be reinvested in signing at least 2-3 players by the end of the January transfer window.
Dyche has previously worked with Dwight McNeil at Burnley and extracted the best out of him. McNeil has failed to impress at Goodison Park but Dyche’s arrival should work in the winger’s favour. With Gordon’s departure, EFC only have three wingers in their squad – Demarai Gray, Andros Townsend and McNeil. Townsend is still recuperating from his cruciate ligament injury.
Everton have to strengthen and signing a winger is now of paramount importance, just like signing another forward after the failed forays of Neal Maupay up top. Hakim Ziyech has been touted as a target but convincing him to join relegation battlers is going to be a daunting task.
Everton make some progress in Kamaldeen Sulemana chase
However, EFC have made progress in the chase of one of their transfer targets. Stade Rennais winger Sulemana was linked with the Toffees earlier in January but the links settled down amid the managerial circus.
The Merseysiders missed out on Arnaut Danjuma after Tottenham hijacked the deal and the Dutchman went to London. After missing out on Danjuma, EFC revisited Rennais to discuss a deal for Sulemana.
The Ligue 1 club are not too keen to sell Sulemana and value the 20 year old at £40 million. Even Southampton have reached out to Stade Rennais but have been put off by their hefty valuation. As per journalist Dean Jones, Everton have made some progress in Sulemana’s chase as some inroads have been made with the agents of the player. A deal could possibly happen but these are still initial stages.
Sulemana has risen in quick time and looks like a promising youngster. The Ghanaian has impressed in Ligue 1 and the Europa League but is relatively unproven. Shelling out £40 million for a player who is still in the nascent stages of development is a huge risk, given Everton’s current position. The Toffees need to sign a proven attacker who can deliver goals and assists from the flanks and also handle the pressure of a relegation battle.
Should EFC sign Kamaldeen Sulemana?