‘My sources say…’ – Everton to reject Ivan Toney and sign 28-yr-old striker instead
Everton have been tipped to turn down the chance to sign Ivan Toney in favour of a different centre-forward option in January.
With both Beto and Thierno Barry struggling to find the back of the net, David Moyes is desperate to bring in a new striker.
Toney has been linked with Everton over the past few weeks, as well as other Premier League sides like Tottenham and West Ham United.
However, the Toffees could opt against bringing in the England international, and instead welcome a former fan favourite back to Merseyside.
Everton to re-sign former fan favourite
Over three years since he left the club to join Tottenham, there has been talk that Richarlison could rejoin Everton in the January transfer window.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that the Brazilian is more likely to move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium than Toney.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness revealed that, according to his sources, Richarlison is the current frontrunner to fill Everton’s striker void.
Wyness added that he can’t see Toney completing a switch to the Toffees
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “It’s one I don’t see happening. There’s been a lot of talk about it, but my own sources are saying no, Richarlison is still the frontrunner.
“Richarlison is younger than Ivan Toney. He’s 28 and Toney is 29. So I think that would bear a little bit of a factor in the situation.
“I also think Richarlison is going to be doing his best to stake a claim for the Brazil World Cup team. I think Moyes might be getting him at a good time in January because he’ll be playing out of his skin to get into that World Cup squad.
“Plus he knows Everton well, he’s well received by the fans. That to me would be an easier fit than Toney, who can be somewhat moody, and coming from Saudi is not necessarily the right preparation.
“I think Richarlison would be a safer bet and I’m hearing he’s ahead in the list at the moment.”
Everton keeping tabs on surprising striker option
Meanwhile, Everton are keeping close tabs on Bayern Munich’s on-loan Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, sources have told Football Insider.
Sources say Bayern are increasingly unlikely to trigger their £70million option to sign the 24-year-old permanently and could allow him to return to Stamford Bridge.
That is despite Bayern holding talks with Chelsea over Jackson in an attempt to negotiate a lower fee to bring the striker to Munich on a permanent basis.
As a result, Everton have now joined the race, with the Senegal international seen as a “Moyes-type” striker with the physicality and movement to lead the line.
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