Everton must target Zan Vipotnik as striker solution after Swansea set £15m transfer valuation
Everton should be doing everything they can to muscle their way in to sign Swansea City striker Zan Vipotnik this summer.
The Championship's leading goalscorer is a man in demand after a career-best season in front of goal, and Premier League clubs are already queuing up to try and sign him this summer.
A whole host of Premier League clubs have been linked with a move for the Slovenian, and the Toffees should be looking to try and force their way into that race.
Vipotnik appears increasingly likely to leave Swansea this summer, as the level of interest in him has grown with every passing game of late, and he could be the perfect solution for David Moyes at the top of the pitch.
Everton's transfer plans are set to see them try and bolster their attacking ranks once again this summer, and a move for the 24-year-old would certainly see them hit the right notes.
Zan Vipotnik the answer to Everton issues as asking price within reach
Despite their drastic progress on the pitch this season, Everton's campaign could have gone even better had they been able to call upon a little more quality to lead the line.
The Toffees have created 58 big chances in the Premier League so far this season, but have spurned well over half of those opportunities, with 35 not ending in the back of the net, according to Fotmob.
| Stats | Vipotnik | Beto | Barry |
| Apps (Starts) | 40 (32) | 32 (13) | 32 (19) |
| Goals | 21 | 7 | 6 |
| Goals per 90 | 0.69 | 0.49 | 0.33 |
| xG Overperformance | +9.4 | -0.74 | -0.14 |
| Shots on Target per 90 | 1.09 | 0.99 | 0.54 |
| Big Chances Missed | 12 | 8 | 9 |
| Conversion Rate | 25.3% | 20.6% | 18.8% |
When you are not a team that creates mountains of opportunities in front of goal, it is vital that you take the ones that come your way, and that is something that Beto and Thierno Barry have struggled to do for large parts of the campaign.
By contrast, Vipotnik is dramatically outperforming his xG in the Championship at the moment, a surefire sign of a striker whose finishing ability turns half chances into clear-cut ones.
His clever movement and clinical nature in the final third reinforce the idea that he is everything that the Toffees have been missing this term, and he is available for an insignificant price this summer.
Football Insider exclusively revealed earlier this week that Swansea want £15million to sell Vipotnik ahead of next term, which is surely a very achievable asking price for Everton to meet.
They have several other pursuits for the summer, not least a move to sign Jack Grealish permanently, but it would surely be no trouble for them to raise £15m to land Vipotnik.
David Moyes to succeed with Championship star yet again
Moyes has been renowned for helping Championship upstars become genuine Premier League stars, having signed and developed the likes of Tim Cahill and Jarrod Bowen in his previous stints at Everton and West Ham, respectively.
It has been a fruitful avenue for him when it comes to player recruitment, and he could be about to repeat the trick with Vipotnik this summer.
The Scot's reputation as a boss precedes him, and it will surely be a major tick against his name when it comes to signing Vipotnik, given that there is clear evidence of him helping players on a similar path throughout his managerial career.
Vipotnik is set to have no shortage of options when it comes to choosing his next club, but Moyes' reputation could prove crucial to help the Merseysiders overcome their rivals and strike a deal.