Report: Everton target Sporting Libson’s Bas Dost, Ronald Koeman a long-time admirer

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Bas Dost’s goalscoring record at Sporting Lisbon is remarkable – no wonder a profligate Everton side have expressed their interest.

With Everton crying out for a new centre forward as quickly as possible, why wouldn’t they turn their attentions to a forward who scored 34 goals in 30 league starts in 2016/17?

Bas Dost posted figures Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would have been proud of last season for Sporting Lisbon so it is something of a surprise that he was not pursued more aggressively during the summer transfer window.

Correio da Manha reported that Everton, West Brom and Stoke City were all interested but it appears that speculation over Dost’s future is likely to be ramped up ahead of the January.

According to ESPN, Everton’s Dutch manager Ronald Koeman has identified his compatriot as a striker capable of filling the Romelu Lukaku shaped void in The Toffees’ attack.

Koeman is understood to be a long-time admirer of the 28-year-old and director of football Steve Walsh even watched him in action during Sporting’s Champions League clash with Barcelona last month.

Correio da Manha reported in the summer that Dost’s release clause stands at £50 million, suggesting that Everton will need to smash their transfer record yet again in order to bring the 6ft 5ins targetman to Goodison Park.

Considering Dost’s prolific goalscoring record at Sporting, Wolfsburg and Heerenveen, and the fact that Everton have hit the net just seven times in the Premier League this season, the flying Dutchman could prove a sound investment.