Everton and Liverpool reportedly in the hunt for PSV forward Bakayoko

Having signed Jack Harrison from Leeds United, Everton are now being linked with a move for PSV winger Johan Bakayoko, along with their Merseyside neighbours.

According to reports today the Toffees are alledged to be in talks over a possible transfer but Liverpool are also supposedly interested in the 20-year-old.

With just a few days to go before Everton travel to Aston Villa on Sunday for their second game of the new season, the Blues still haven’t brought in an experienced centre-forward to support or rival Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

As was clearly evident again from Saturday’s defeat to Fulham, unless the Toffees find players who can regularly score goals now they are facing another long, hard campaign and possibly a third consecutive relegation fight. And one this time they will probably lose.

Calvert-Lewin came thorugh Tuesday evening’s strange friendly defeat against Manchester United apparently unscathed and so presumably will now be in contention to start for Everton at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon.

That is of course, unless the made-of-glass striker gets hurt again in between times or Sean Dyche still doesn’t consider him ready to play!

One player who we know won’t be in the team, is new signing Harrison and it is uncertain when he will be able to make a contribution for his new side, due to a hip injury he is carrying.

So, with another week of the transfer window moving towards it’s end, we are still waiting for a new striker to take the burden and pressure off a player who we all know could break down at any minute.

What a fiasco it is.

Well, now come fresh rumours claiming Everton have a definite interest in the PSV player and are moving to try and get him.

The Toffees did once sign a forward called Bakayoko in the late 1990s.

I think I remember his debut came in a derby at Goodison Park and if my memory serves he almost scored with one of his first touches too. I don’t recall him doing much else afterwards though!

It seems fitting in a way then that this Bakayoko should also be a target of Liverpool, who are apparently looking at him as a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah.

If all this is correct, then I very much doubt the young Belgian starlet will be choosing the Blue half of Merseyside were he to be tempted by a move to the Premier League.

Based on analysis from whoscored.com the attacker is quite a talent with a host of strengths and qualities that would make him a much-coveted young player.

Everton though already have already brought in an inexperienced 19-year-old forward in Youssef Chermiti.

Instead of wasting so much time pursuing Wilfried Gnonto who may or may not leave Elland Road, what they need now is a proven striker who can start scoring goals straight away.

I feel almost exhausted having to repeat myself so often (along with so many other Evertonians) but it doesn’t seem to make any difference.

Stories still circulate saying other strikers are of interest and are on the radar, but nothing solid happens. It is all beginning to smell suspiciously similar to last January.

Unless something happens soon, it appears as though we all have to hope and keep our fingers crossed that somehow, against all the odds and past experience, Calvert-Lewin can stay fit and healthy enough to lead the line on Sunday and presumably the rest of this season’s matches too.

Is this really where we are yet again at the start of another Premier League campaign?!