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Everton to up their bid for Almeria and Mali striker Toure

By Matt Townsend

BARCELONA, SPAIN - JUNE 04: Simo Wassim Keddari of RCD Espanyol battles for possession with El Bilal Toure of UD Almeria during the LaLiga Santander match between RCD Espanyol and UD Almeria at RCDE Stadium on June 04, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - JUNE 04: Simo Wassim Keddari of RCD Espanyol battles for possession with El Bilal Toure of UD Almeria during the LaLiga Santander match between RCD Espanyol and UD Almeria at RCDE Stadium on June 04, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) /
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After claims Everton are edging closer to a deal for Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto, other sources say the club are ready to up their bid for another striker, El Bilal Toure.

Football Insider claim the Toffees will now substantially raise their offer for the Mali player to secure a quick transfer and get him into the first-team squad as soon as possible.

As with Leeds’ Gnonto, Toure is a player Everton have been repeatedly and almost exhaustively linked with over the past few weeks.

Constant stories have emerged with details of the Blues’ interest in the 21-year-old forward who is apparently available, for the right price.

Previously, Everton were alledged to have made an offer of £25 million for the powerful young striker but that wasn’t enough to force Almeria’s hand.

According to this report, figure of about £30 million is in fact required to get the deal done (assuming Toure is willing to sign!) and so the Toffees will have to go higher if they want their man.

All this sounds a little improbable to me, but the rumour persists and I suppose it is possible that behind the scenes such a deal is being worked out.

Sean Dyche has said that although funds are tight he and the club are busy trying to get new signings over the line.

The Everton manager wants at least four new faces before the Premier League campaign kicks off and so it is possible Toure is one of the players he’s keen to get.

Like Gnonto, the Mali international is a young player with real promise who has already proven he can score at the highest level with room to presumably get better too.

He is quick, strong and good in the air and these are all qualities that would make him, on paper at least, well suited to Everton’s current style of play and to English football generally.

All of those things will tick boxes the Blues are probably looking at when they are considering spending any serious sums on new players.

Although, having said all that, the only new addition to come through the doors at Finch Farm so far this summer and in fact for a year, is 38-year-old free agent Ashley Young.

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