Everton want Pape Abou Cisse this summer – but he is now being eyed to replace Newcastle United new boy Sven Botman.
The Toffees look to be bringing in one centre back this summer with James Tarkowski on his way in from Burnley.
The likes of Michael Keane, Yerry Mina, Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate will still be batting it out for first-team football under Frank Lampard.
It therefore sounds like Everton won’t need to be bring in another centre back this summer, but the rumour mill has thrown up another name.
Everton want Pape Abou Cisse this summer
Greek outlet Sportime claim that Everton are interested in signing Olympiacos defender Pape Abou Cisse this summer.
It’s stated that Everton have been making checks on Cisse ahead of a possible move for the centre back.
Watford are also thought to be interested but the main competition will come from Lille.
Lille director of football Franck Beria has been seen scouting Cisse on multiple occasions over the last year.
Lille are in the market for another centre back having sold star defender Sven Botman to Newcastle this week.
That Newcastle cash could now be put towards signing Cisse, who has already played in French football with Ajaccio.
Cisse has been with Olympiacos since 2017 and may now be ready for a new challenge.
The 26-year-old really caught the eye at the Africa Cup of Nations, filling in for Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly in Senegal’s back line.
Links to Everton do seem strange given Tarkowski’s imminent move but this could be one to bring in if Yerry Mina moves on.
Cisse stands at a huge 6ft 6in tall, a similar frame to that of Mina, whose injury problems have been well-documented since joining Everton in 2018.
Cisse would make sense as a like-for-like replacement, but it’s hard to see anything imminent unless Everton suddenly sell a defender.
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