Everton reportedly dropped their interest in Sporting Lisbon striker Bas Dost after the size of his release clause was revealed.
With Ronald Koeman sacked by Everton a month ago and no new manager yet installed as his replacement, who knows what this means for The Toffees interest in Sporting Lisbon striker Bas Dost?
Online Wedden reported in 2013 that Koeman wanted to bring his compatriot to Feyenoord to replace Graziano Pelle. And six months later, The Express claimed that the Dutchman was once again chasing Dost, hoping the lanky goal-machine would join him at Southampton.
And, as recently as October, a matter of weeks before Koeman was handed his P45, ESPN stated that he was hoping to finally sign Dost as the much-needed number nine Everton have lacked since Romelu Lukaku left for Manchester United.
But, according to The Sun, not everyone at Everton shared Koeman’s enthusiasm about bringing Dost to Goodison Park. The £54 million release clause in the targetman’s contract, the report adds, had put the club’s chiefs off doing a deal.
When you consider the sheer volume of Dost’s goals this season, however, and factor in just how desperate Everton are for a reliable and prolific number nine, perhaps it wouldn’t be the worst idea for The Toffees to break their transfer record again.
Record-breaking number nine?
Dost has 11 goals in 18 games this season after netting 36 in 44 across 2016/17. Though Dost is not the most consistent of strikers, tending to score in patches rather than on a week-by-week basis, a tally as impressive as this cannot be underestimated.
The former Wolfsburg striker is an old-school poacher who thrives on service inside the six-yard box. He is, in fact, exactly the sort of out-and-out goalscorer Everton are crying out for.
So despite the departure of Koeman and Dost’s obscene price-tag, perhaps Everton will revisit the deal in January.
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