Everton are scouring for a Romelu Lukaku-type addition but Aston Villa top scorer Jonathan Kodjia may not fit the bill.
Aston Villa’s inability to threaten the Championship play-off positions this season have raised fears that star striker Jonathan Kodjia could be enticed by a move elsewhere.
And, somewhat inevitably, the Daily Mirror reported earlier this week that Everton and Stoke City are tracking the process of a player who has scored 19 times in his debut season at Villa Park.
Without Kodjia’s goals, Steve Bruce’s side would be in the Championship relegation zone, such is their reliance on the former Bristol City striker. As such, Villa could not even take much solace from the fact that they would be set for a rather substantial cash influx if they were stripped of a player who cost a second-tier record £15 million just a year ago, as reported by Sky Sports.
Yet, it’s far from certain that the Ivorian will attempt to engineer a move from the Midlands in the summer. Bruce insisted recently that Kodjia is happy in claret and blue and claimed that he was not fearful of the striker departing at the end of a prolific season.
And the Birmingham Mail adds that it is far from certain that Everton will even go all out for the 27-year-old in the summer.
The Toffees are facing up to the prospect of losing talismanic top scorer Romelu Lukaku after the Belgian stated that he would not sign a new contract at Goodison Park due to his desire to play Champions League football.
The Standard reported recently that potential suitors will be forced to pay a British record £65 million to convince Everton to sell, however. As a result, Everton can afford to aim for more ambitious targets than a striker currently plying his trade in the Championship.
And the Birmingham Mail claims that Everton want to challenge for Champions League football next season so will instead target a more proven striker.
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