Everton exit update in battle to sign PL ace - Sky Sports journalist

Everton do want Armando Broja from Chelsea but currently cannot afford to make a move for him, according to Lyall Thomas.

The Sky Sports journalist reported via Twitter on 11 June that the Toffees are joined by Wolves and Southampton in the race to sign the Albanian international but all three clubs’ financial positions make a transfer unworkable as things stand.

Everton would therefore need to sell a player “in all likelihood” to proceed with their interest in the 22-year-old.

Ben Jacobs of talkSPORT had reported on 9 June that the club were pushing ahead on a £30million deal for Broja and were in daily contact with Chelsea, but it appears a corresponding exit will have to be signed off at the same time.

Everton in same boat with Wolves and Southampton over Stamford Bridge man

The obvious sale that might be made at Goodison Park to allow the striker to come in, despite extensive transfer links to big-money pair Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana, is Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Sean Dyche’s number nine is a target for Newcastle this summer [Telegraph, 23 May] and has yet to sign the contract extension put forward by the club [BBC Sport, 30 May], with just a year left on his current deal.

Allowing for fitness it would appear to be something of a downgrade, on recent form, to replace Calvert-Lewin with Broja when the latter has only scored three times for Chelsea in the past two seasons and couldn’t force his way into the Fulham side on loan last term.

Although he clearly has quality BBC Sport journalist Shamoon Hafez had reported (10 June) that Everton weren’t even interested in him, but if they in fact do hold out hopes of doing a deal then it is perhaps a relief that Southampton can’t move yet either when Broja is said to be “keen” on a return to his former loan club [TBR Football, 1 June].

The first choice outcome from the current situation for Sean Dyche would likely be for Calvert-Lewin to sign a new deal and continue as the first choice, unless there are ongoing fears over his injury record.

If the Toffees do spend big money on anyone it would be a surprise if they signed a striker with it when they are already paying for the two they bought a year ago this month in Beto and Youssef Chermiti.

Winger is an obvious priority, while the threat of multiple departures in defence could make that a pressing issue, but signings at any position will surely be dictated by who leaves.

In other Everton news, The Esk has issued a “significant” update on one of the takeover bids.

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