Ligue 1 strugglers Lille are demanding a big fee for Adama Soumaoro and Everton have turned their attention to Kevin Vogt and David Lopez instead.
Everton have successfully reinforced their forward line this month but they remain a little light at the other end of the pitch.
The Toffees’ defence remains a real Achilles heel that even the arch pragmatism Sam Allardyce has been unable to solve. And with just a day remaining in the transfer window, the chances of Adama Soumaoro moving to Goodison Park from Lille may be on the wane.
Everton have been watching the 25-year-old Ligue 1 ace for some time. And the Sun states that director of football Steve Walsh went to watch the defender in action last week ahead of a potential £18 million move to Merseyside, although Soumaoro missed the game with Rennes through injury.
But links with Soumaoro have grown a little cold in recent days and it appears that the Toffees have turned their attention towards cheaper alternatives.
According to Bild, Everton are keen on Hoffenheim’s Kevin Vogt, a 6ft 4ins powerhouse of a player who was superb as Julian Nagelsmann’s side qualified for Europe for the first time in their history last season.
And Mundo Deportivo has now reported that Everton are also considering Espanyol’s David Lopez. Like Vogt, the 28-year-old former Napoli man has been transformed from a defensive midfielder to a centre-back since Quique Sanchez Flores took over at the Catalan club and has been so impressive that speculation has intensified of an impending call up to the Spanish national side.
It is unknown how much Vogt or Lopez would cost but you can guarantee they would come cheaper than the £18 million Soumaoro.
Maybe after paying big money for Theo Walcott and Cenk Tosun, majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri is keen to keep his expenditure in check.
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