Che Adams and Patson Daka eyed as soon as Youssef Chermiti deal sealed
Everton are ready to go after a second striker signing before the window closes “once the [Youssef] Chermiti deal is done”, according to BBC Sport.
The broadcaster posted an update on their website at 1.32pm on Tuesday (8 August) reporting that the Portuguese striker was in the process of the second part of his medical and would be announced by Friday, with the Toffees then ready to go after Southampton’s Che Adams or Leicester’s Patson Daka as soon as the first move is sealed.
Having sold Ellis Simms this summer, and with Tom Cannon wanted too, Sean Dyche currently has just the injury-hit Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the underperforming Neal Maupay as striking options until 19-year-old Chermiti arrives.
The Toffees boss wants a senior option in the window as well as the teenager, who has less than a single season of senior football under his belt.
Adams, 27, netted five times in the Premier League last year but scored a late winner off the bench for Southampton in their opening day Championship win over Sheffield Wednesday on Friday (4 August).
Fellow relegated forward Daka, 24, netted four times for Leicester City in the top flight last season.
No time to lose
It is encouraging to see Everton are looking to maintain the push for attacking recruits in the remaining weeks of the window but both the named options might strike as underwhelming.
Clearly the Toffees aren’t in a position to go out and put £35million-plus on the table for a top-level scorer, but while Adams and Daka are both solid players they don’t look like they can lead the line for any length of time if Calvert-Lewin is ruled out.
Maupay fell into the same trap after building a reputation as a useful forward at Brighton but has only one goal for the club since moving to Goodison a year ago.
With Chermiti possessing more of the frame to emulate Calvert-Lewin he could be in line for plenty of opportunities in relief of the number nine as soon as he’s up to speed this season.
Everton were ready to spend around £24m to sign El Bilal Touré from Almeria, and while up to £15m is being spent on Chermiti there could be more cash coming in from a Demarai Gray sale.
Either of Adams or Daka could prove to be a hit at Goodison Park, but their records in the top flight suggest they are more hit and miss, so if there is money available Dyche should perhaps aim slightly higher.
