Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud is reportedly on the radar of both Everton and West Ham United.
It may take some time getting used to this new, ambitious Everton.
Sunderland’s goalkeeping phenomenon Jordan Pickford, Ajax captain Davy Klaassen and Nigerian striker Henry Onyekuru, arguably the most in-demand young forward in Europe, have already put pen to paper at Goodison Park this summer.
Yet, splashing out on Olivier Giroud would be by far their most intriguing signing since majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri arrived last year. The French international has been heavily linked with West Ham and Marseille while Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas admitted that he may be his preferred replacement for compatriot Alexandre Lacazette at the Parc OL.
Olivier Giroud may need a fresh start
However, The Sun claims that Everton could spectacularly gate-crash the move with a £20 million bid – particularly if Romelu Lukaku makes his anticipated return to former club Chelsea.
Little room to manoeuvre
The report adds that Giroud, who started just 11 Premier League games last season, is worried about his lack of game-time at Arsenal with a World Cup on the horizon.
With Lacazette, Antoine Griezmann, Anthony Martial, Kylian Mbappe, Kevin Gameiro all in contention for a place in Didier Deschamps attack, you can understand the 30-year-old’s concerns.
And Everton will know that they have little room to manoeuvre, particularly as one of their alternative targets appears to have committed his future elsewhere.
The Chronicle reports that Villarreal striker Cedric Bakambu is ‘in no hurry to leave’ despite The Mirror claiming that Everton were plotting a move in excess of £20 million.
The Congolese striker, who was the subject of a club-record bid from West Ham on Saturday according to The Times, has scored 23 goals in 57 La Liga appearances for The Yellow Submarine.
Therefore, with Lukaku’s heart set on a move and Bakambu beyond their reach, Everton can no longer afford to wait around for Giroud.
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