Report: PAOK to sign Andrija Zivkovic for free, one year after near £31m Everton move

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According to Sportime, PAOK are set to sign former Everton target Andrija Zivkovic.

The Serbia international has endured a whirlwind last 12 months after nearly joining Premier League side Everton in the summer of 2019.

A Bola reported last year that Zivokovic was keen on a move to Everton, after scoring four goals and assisting 24 in 84 games since arriving from Partizan Belgrade.

Sportime add that a deal with Everton was close. However, Benfica’s £31 million asking price was a stumbling block for the Toffees as they didn’t want to pay such a fee.

Fast forward a year and the Merseyside club could sign him for free.

Zivkovic was released from the Portuguese giants this past week and the latest reports from Greece say he is about to sign with PAOK, without a compensation fee.

It is some turnaround for the winger, to miss out on a financially rewarding switch to Everton to joining arguably Greece’s fourth biggest club in the space of a year.

Everton, meanwhile, may view the whole Zivkovic transfer saga as a dodged bullet.

The 24-year-old has talent and undoubted potential. But there is a reason Benfica were happy to ship him out for free, while there is an evident lack of suitors this time around.

Everton must look at strengthening their attacking options this summer.

The Toffees struggled for creativity last term, and manager Carlo Ancelotti must be hoping the club back him in the market if they wish to progress this coming season.