After Sulemana, Everton lose second player to Southampton as £17.5m striker undergoing medical
Everton have the worst luck as they are failing to get any deal over the line. After being linked to at least a dozen forwards, the reality is that EFC have not been able to sign a single player in the transfer window. In the last few hours of the transfer window, Paul Onuachu was linked with the Toffees but that pursuit is over as well.
Everton now face the risk of coming out of the transfer window with an even weaker squad as Anthony Gordon has been sold to Newcastle United. The absolute priority going into the transfer window was to sign a striker as Everton were struggling in front of the goal.
Everton hoped to fast track their transfer pursuits once Sean Dyche was announced as the new Everton boss as the Englishman was also working on transfers. The £40 million earned through Gordon sale could have easily funded a deal for a striker and a winger who would be Gordon’s replacement.
Everton did enquire about strikers like Viktor Gyokeres, Marko Arnautovic, Beto, Moussa Dembele and many others but little progress was made in the chase of either of the names. Another name that was linked in the first half of January was Genk striker Onuachu.
Everton miss out on Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu
An earlier report claimed that Everton and Manchester United were looking to sign 28 year old Nigerian striker Onuachu from Genk. The forward was reportedly available for £17.5 million as a number of sides took stock of the situation. United went on to sign Wout Weghorst on loan and EFC seemed to carry on with in their pursuit of other forwards.
On transfer deadline day, the links to Onuachu have remerged as the Genk forward was wanted by the Toffees and Southampton. Both the sides seemed to be ready to make a bid of £17.5 million to sign the Belgian league top scorer.
However, as things stand, Everton have lost a transfer battle once again to the Saints as South coast side is set to sign Onuachu from Genk. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Nigerian forward is undergoing his Southampton medical and is set to follow Kamaldeen Sulemana as the new Southampton signing.
Everton have now lost two targets to Southampton on deadline day as Onuachu and Sulemana are on their way to Saint Mary’s stadium. Earlier, Sulemana decided to snub the Toffees and chose to join the Saints after a £22 million bid was accepted by Stade Rennais from both the Premier League sides. The Toffees must leave no stone unturned to sign a forward before the 11 PM UK time deadline or else a survival challenge looks extremely difficult.
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