Everton feel Hugo Ekitike may be too expensive with Paris Saint-Germain valuing their Premier League-linked striker at around £30 million.
If the Toffees felt they needed a striker before Fulham arrived at Goodison Park afterwards, the events of another highly-frustrating afternoon on Merseyside would have only strengthened Sean Dyche’s resolve to bring in another number nine.
Everton’s XG of nearly three – per Sky Sports’ Matt Cheetham – was more than any Premier League team created without scoring in the whole of 2022/23. The much-maligned Neal Maupay accounted for around half of that total as Fulham triumphed 1-0 late on; squandering his fair share of chances.
And if Sean Dyche’s side are to avoid starting as they mean to go on, the final two weeks of the window will take on even greater significance.
Everton desperate for striker amid Hugo Ekitike interest
“(Our XG) was around three, which is high in the Premier League,” an exasperated Dyche said at full-time, via Sporting Life.
“Some of the breakaways, some of the moments, some of the quality of chances were excellent. Now we’ve got to find those moments to go and score goals.”
That, of course, is easier said than done. Especially with Dominic Calvert-Lewin not yet ready to start and summer signing Youssef Chermiti only 19.
You certainly can’t accuse Everton of not attempting to solve their goalscoring issues. Hugo Ekitike, who reached double figures in France’s Ligue 1 while still a teenager at Reims, remains an active target; Sky Sports reporting last week that the Toffees had ‘made an offer’.
Now at PSG, Ekitike will be allowed to leave this month. Everton are under no illusions, however, that his £30 million asking price may be beyond a club who have struggled with Financial Fair Play concerns over the last few windows (The Athletic).
Paris Saint-Germain want big fee
It remains to be seen if PSG would be willing to accept a loan offer for a man who started only 12 league games during his debut season at the Parc des Princes. Ekitike turned down a move to Newcastle United before his switch to the French capital in 2022.
“There is something very special about him,” former Reims coach Oscar Garcia told the Ligue 1 website.
“(Ekitike is) young, and he has the quality to become a very good player. He’s started a lot of games now. He’s a young man with a lot of quality but also a lot to improve on. But he works hard in training.”
Everton have signed three new attackers this summer – Chermiti, Jack Harrison and Arnaut Danjuma – but none can really be considered proven, reliable goalscorers at the highest level.
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