Simon Jordan believes Southampton striker Che Adams could prove to be a solid addition to an Everton squad yet to score in the Premier League so far in 2023/24.
On the face of it, Southampton’s Scotland international is hardly the proven, prolific Premier League goalscorer who could turn Everton from relegation candidates into mid-table finishers.
As former Crystal Palace chairman Jordan points out, Che Adams scored only 25 times in four top-flight campaigns at St Mary’s; five of those coming last term as the South Coast club ended a disastrous term sitting rock-bottom.
But with funds tight at Goodison Park, Jordan wonders if the phrase ‘beggars cannot be choosers’ comes to mind.
Everton make new bid for Southampton’s Che Adams
“Well, it is better than what they’ve got. If you look at Che Adams record – 25 goals in about 130 Premier League appearances – it’s not going to set the world alight. One (goal) in every six games means he is going to contribute about six goals a season, by nature of the average,” Jordan tells talkSPORT (22 August, 10am).
“But whether that would be different if he plays in a better side more suited to giving him opportunities…”
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injury curse ongoing – one wonders if the luckless centre-forward walked under 13 ladders while breaking an entire Hall of Mirrors on his way to training – Adams would at least give Everton a presence up top. Adams’ superb work-rate and intelligent link-play, meanwhile, could get the best out of Everton’s new widemen Jack Harrison and Arnaut Danjuma, the latter a bright spark in Sunday’s otherwise-dismal 4-0 defeat at Aston Villa.
“I hate this expression,” Jordan adds. “But, in this instance, I’m going to find myself saying it; they need to get some bodies in the building. Given the fact some of the bodies they’ve got are useless, anybody would be better!”
According to the Daily Mail, Everton submitted a £12 million bid for Adams last week. They have since improved that offer to £15 million.
And, by his own admission, Southampton boss Russell Martin would be ‘gutted’ to lose a man who popped up with a stoppage time winner away at Plymouth Argyle last time out.
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