Neymar verdict issued as ‘£40m’ Everton deal mooted – ‘he will go’
Everton will struggle to sign Aleksandar Mitrovic for anything less than £40million this summer with Al-Hilal reluctant to lose their “talisman”.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson said that the Saudi Pro League side are desperate to keep hold of Mitrovic for next season.
Mitrovic has been a big miss when absent for Al-Hilal this season yet has still managed 28 goals in all competitions, being the main man for the SPL runners-up since Neymar returned to Brazil in January.
Neymar‘s departure has left Al-Hilal determined to retain Mitrovic this summer with the Club World Cup on the horizon, but both Everton and West Ham want to bring the Serbian back to the Premier League.
Now, Robinson has told Football Insider that although Everton have money to spend this summer and are in the market for a new striker, Al-Hilal will demand over £40m from David Moyes‘ side for Mitrovic.
Robinson said the Saudi club could be convinced to sell their talisman, but if Mitrovic does move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium this summer, a rebuild will be on the cards with at least two replacements needed.
Mitrovic transfer ‘a long way off’ for Everton
Everton have a clear need for a new number nine this summer, but doubts have emerged over Mitrovic’s ability to re-adapt to Premier League life if either the Toffees or West Ham do complete a deal for him.
Speaking on the latest Inside Track, Robinson argued that Mitrovic’s form at Al-Hilal suggests that he can lead the line for Everton next season, but made clear that signing him will be easier said than done.
“I’d be surprised if Al-Hilal are selling their main talisman – there’s absolutely no way they’re going to sell him before the Club World Cup”, Robinson told Football Insider.
“Mitrovic, he did his hamstring in the Kings Cup quarter final this year against Al-Ittihad. [Former head coach] Jorge Jesus looked around his bench and he didn’t really have any other options.
“Without Mitrovic, Al-Hilal don’t have a main striker, they’re going to have to recruit and recruit heavily.
“The way that the Saudi Pro League is going, they’re not really into selling their best players back to the European leagues, and Mitrovic is their main man.
“They wouldn’t go into the Club World Cup or go into next season without Mitrovic – or without at least two replacements for Mitrovic.
“If you’re going to sell him for £40million, you’re going to need to buy two players for a similar value. Mitrovic has been invaluable to what they’ve done.
“Obviously, they let Neymar go, and Mitrovic is [now] the main man, the talisman. There’d have to be some real shuffle readjustment. I could see him fitting in a David Moyes side.
“The way that Everton play, the way that David Moyes would want to play, he’s the ideal target and he’s the ideal number nine for David Moyes, but I don’t think they’ll get him out of Al Hilal.”
Everton expected to sign new striker amid Calvert-Lewin talks
Statement signings such as Neymar and Mitrovic could be out of Everton’s reach this summer, but their need for a new striker is clear after Liam Delap opted to sign for Chelsea ahead of a move to Merseyside.
Moyes is set to be without his current number nine at the end of the month with Dominic Calvert-Lewin still yet to sign a new contract, and his form last season has underlined the requirement for an upgrade.
Carlos Alcaraz is already through the doors after his loan from Flamengo was made permanent, but Everton’s full focus now needs to be on signing a striker as prolific and established as Mitrovic has become.