Frank Lampard continues to consider Chelsea star Armando Broja as his top striker target, but Everton are now showing an interest in Ben Brereton Diaz of Blackburn Rovers as well.
Everton now eye Ben Brereton Diaz as alternative to Armando Broja interest
According to Sky Sports, Everton are now looking at alternative attackers to sign in the last weeks of the window, including Blackburn Rovers striker Ben Brereton Diaz, as the Toffees have made little progress in negotiations with Chelsea over the transfer of Armando Broja.
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Frank Lampard is eager to reunite with Broja at Goodison Park, having offered the Albania international his senior breakthrough at Stamford Bridge. But Thomas Tuchel is yet to give his predecessor at the west London helm permission to secure a deal for the 20-year-old.
Broja has emerged as an option for Everton this summer as Lampard desperately targets a proven goalscorer at Goodison. The Toffees boss is loath to end the summer sales without adding to his frontline, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin starting the season with another injury.
Calvert-Lewin sat out 18 Premier League fixtures last term whilst the England international overcome a myriad of problems. Broja, meanwhile, was impressing during his season-long loan spell at Southampton, hitting six goals in 32 games in his first full term in the division.
But as Everton are struggling to agree on terms with Chelsea for Lampard’s top target, the Toffees have begun exploring his interest in Blackburn dynamo Brereton Diaz. The ex-Blues boss also likes Brighton & Hove Albion’s Neal Maupay and Coventry City’s Viktor Gyokeres.
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Everton are not alone in appreciating Brereton Diaz, as Sky Sports add that Blackburn have rejected a £10m bid from Ligue 1 side OGC Nice. The 14-cap Chile international has fans in France and England for his 22 goals and three assists in 37 Championship games last term.
Brereton Diaz is also a versatile forward, capable of causing damage from the left-wing, as well as at striker. He has made all three of his second-tier outings so far this season on the flank, while scoring two goals and an assist ahead of visiting Reading on Wednesday night.
Reports by The Guardian have previously cited Blackburn as slapping a £15m valuation on Brereton Diaz. That is likely half the figure Everton would have to pay Chelsea to see Broja move, as Gianluca Di Marzio cited a £25-30m figure amid interest from West Ham in June.
West Ham have since spent £30.5m to sign Gianluca Scamacca from Sassuolo, instead. So, David Moyes is unlikely to rival Lampard for Broja if Everton maintain their interest in the Chelsea forward, lauded for his Southampton exploits, despite their difficult negotiations.
“From last year to this he has grown a lot and at Southampton, he has exploded,” Albania assistant coach Sergio Porrini said in May, via quotes by TuttoMercatoWEB.
“His greatest qualities are in progression, especially the ball and chain. Less good, on the other hand, with his back to the goal, in the construction of the action. But in the spaces, he is devastating.”
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