Everton have reportedly become the latest side to join Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United in the race to sign the striker.
According to a report from the Daily Express, Everton have joined the likes of Tottenham and West Ham in the battle to land Aleksandar Mitrovic this summer – but it appears that the Premier League admirers could be set for disappointment.
Despite Fulham securing an immediate return to the Championship, Mitrovic’s stock has risen over the last 12 months, with the Serbian scoring 10 goals in 32 Premier League appearances following his £25 million move from Newcastle.
And with the Cottagers getting relegated, there are now several sides considering a summer move for Mitrovic, with the Express reporting that the Toffees are now in the mix alongside Spurs, West Ham, Leicester City and Southampton.
Unfortunately for the English sides however, the Express adds that Fulham want £50 million, and that is most likely to come from the Chinese Super League, with Guangzhou Evergrande reportedly willing to hand Mitrovic a contract worth £300,000-a-week.
If Mitrovic’s motivation for his next move is financial, then the likes of Everton, Tottenham and West Ham should certainly step aside and let him head to China this summer. While the asking price would not see any of the three sides breaking the bank, the wages on offer elsewhere are surely not worth competing with.
Mitrovic is a very good striker with potential to develop further – especially if he joins a team that is not fighting relegation – but he is not a goalscorer that is going to leave Spurs, the Hammers and Everton kicking themselves for not wanting to compete with reported £300,000-a-week contract offers.
But if the 24-year-old’s head is not turned by the eye-watering contract offer and his preference is to stay in the Premier League, then perhaps the trio should step up their interest – particularly if Fulham are willing to compromise on his reported asking price.
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