Just what Everton needed: £25m striker target Bakambu nets spectacular Europa League winner

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As Everton struggled, summer target Cedric Bakambu shone.

Everton’s transfer activity early in the summer had appeared to point in the direction of Cedric Bakambu, who was touted as a replacement for Romelu Lukaku.

The Mirror reported Everton held an interest in the £25 million rated striker, but they decided to pass, even though they did not sign a proper replacement for the Belgian.

Last night the forward began to show why snubbing him may have been a mistake.

While Everton toiled away to Atalanta, Bakambu was scoring a crucial goal in an away tie with Astana.

Everton’s best chance to sign Bakambu could have already passed them by.

Football Espana reported in July that Bakambu had signed a new deal with Villarreal which would put him under contract intil 2022.

Last season he scored 11 goals in 17 starts for Villarreal in La Liga, 26 appearances in total. It was not a figure which immediatley suggested £25 million was value for money, but very few players are in this market, as Everton are quickly finding out.

Bakambu’s goal last night suggests that Everton would certainly be a stronger side with him leading the line, and the Toffees must make adding a goalscorer a key priority in the upcoming transfer window.