EXCLUSIVE: Everton make €18m Leicester City striker no 1 priority target after missing out on El Bilal Toure
Everton have failed in their pursuit to sign El Bilal Toure despite weeks of hard work. The Malian striker was a priority target for the Toffees but EFC failed to land him as Atalanta won the race. Now, Everton are back to the drawing board and evaluating their striker targets, with Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho emerging as a priority target.
EFC want to sign a striker to reinforce their attack but they have failed in their pursuits. Viktor Gyokeres was a player that the Toffees had been following since January but they couldn’t sign him as the Swedish striker preferred a move to Sporting.
EFC also carried out enquiries for Victor Boniface but Bayer Leverkusen managed to swoop in and sign the Nigerian. Bilal Toure is the latest setback for EFC as the 21 year old was in advanced talks but the player chose to sign for Atalanta.
The Toffees still have a number of players on their short list. EFC have asked about Boulaye Dia and new rounds of talks are set to be initiated with Salernitana for the Senegalese. Everton have also been linked to Leicester striker Iheanacho.
Everton considering Kelechi Iheanacho as transfer priority
According to Inside Futbol, EFC are considering Iheanacho as one of the priority targets in the transfer window. With Leicester City relegated, there are chances of some of their best players leaving this summer. Harvey Barnes joined Newcastle United, James Maddison joined Tottenham Hotspur and other top players have been linked with a move away as well.
The Nigerian striker played 35 games last season, scoring eight goals and providing five assists. The 26 year old has entered the final 12 months of his deal and could leave this summer as Leicester would not want to lose him on a free transfer next summer.
Iheanacho can also play as a secondary striker which would make Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Iheanacho co-exist in the same system.
Even at Leicester, there had been numerous times when Jamie Vardy and the Nigerian played together and in fact, Iheanacho benefitted heavily from Vardy’s movement.
The 26 year old is also a transfer target for Nottingham Forest and Burnley with Besiktas also keen on him. The Turkish side had reportedly tabled a loan bid with an option to buy however; Iheanacho has not yet made a decision on his future.
Everton do have a realistic chance of signing the 26 year old and he could be available in the region of €18 million as per Transfermarkt.
