Premier League side Everton are rivalling Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund for Werder Bremen’s Danish midfielder Thomas Delaney.
But, after taking their foot off the gas, Everton missed their chance and the Copenhagen talisman slipped through their grasp. A few months later, he moved to Werder Bremen instead for a bargain fee of just £1.5 million.
Everton obviously knew they’d made a mistake, because The Mail states that they made an unsuccessful £8 million bid as soon as Delaney arrived at Bremen.
Flash forward to the present day and, while Delaney’s price tag has soared to £16.8 million, one thing has not changed. Everton are continuing to target a player who has blossomed in the Bundesliga to the point where he is now one of the league’s most in-demand players.
The Mail suggests that The Toffees are still in the mix to sign the 26-year-old after Premier League rivals Brighton saw a £10 million bid rejected. Delaney could be theirs though, if they meet his £16.8 million price-tag.
As it stands though, Borussia Dortmund are leading the chase. BVB have made a £13 million bid, according to Bild, for the box-to-box midfielder just a few days after he scored a wonderful looping header against Peter Stoger’s side in the Bundesliga.
Everton do have the funds to compete, however, and Delaney could be an astute addition even if the Merseysiders aren’t short of midfielders. Blessed with the ability to score from the centre of the park, he’d certainly offer something different.
But if Everton do finally end their two-year wait for Delaney, there will be some regret that they didn’t sign him for just £1.5 million when they had the chance.
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