Kevin Gameiro is one of La Liga’s most feared hitmen, but could he be forced to Everton after Atletico Madrid landed Diego Costa from Chelsea?
Everton have scored three goals in their last five Premier League games. That is the same amount as Kevin Gameiro managed in just four minutes and 43 seconds to clinch a 4-1 win for Atletico Madrid away at Sporting Gijon in February.
The rampant Frenchman ran the hosts’ defence ragged in a remarkable spell between the 80th and the 85th minute at the Molinon, rocking up the second quickest three-goal haul in La Liga history, just behind former Deportivo striker Bebeto’s hat-trick against Alaves back in 1995.
No wonder, then, that Everton are reportedly interested in bringing the jet-heeled Gameiro to Goodison Park in January. The Mirror claims that the 30-year-old’s future is uncertain at Atletico with Diego Simeone’s side needing to balance the books following the £67 million signing of Diego Costa from Chelsea.
Consequently, Atleti could move the former Sevilla striker on for just £20 million, £15 million less than they paid last summer, or let him leave on loan. Gameiro is understood to be concerned about his lack of game time, especially with a World Cup around the corner.
And the one-time PSG striker certainly has what it takes to be the prolific goalscorer Everton have missed since Romelu Lukaku completed his move to Manchester United.
Gameiro scored 28 goals in his last two La Liga seasons for Atletico and Sevilla combined and his rapid pace and perfectly timed runs in behind opposition defences could provide out-of-sorts playmakers Davy Klaassen and Gylfi Sigurdsson with a much-needed target.
And the odd four-minute hat-trick would come in handy, too.
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