Everton interested in Troyes star Mama Balde as Che Adams transfer bid is rejected
Everton are interested in signing Troyes striker Mama Balde after seeing their £12million offer for Che Adams rejected, talkSPORT understands.
Burnley and Sheffield United are also in the running for Balde, who is believed to be available for around £7m.
The Toffees are hunting for new forwards as they aim to improve on last season’s 17th-place finish.
They struggled all year but survived under the stewardship of Sean Dyche.
Youssef Chermiti has already arrived to bolster the forward line in a £15million from Sporting Lisbon.
He joins loanees Jack Harrison and Arnaut Danjuma, and free signing Ashley Young at Goodison Park.
Meanwhile, star centre-forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin is on his way back to fitness on Merseyside.
But Dyche remains keen on additions with Wilfried Gnonto a summer-long target.
The most recent offer was worth £25m with add-ons, and Gnonto has since withdrawn Leeds’ squad and handed in a transfer request.
And as their battle for Southampton star Adams appears to be bearing no fruit, Everton are turning their attention to Balde.
The Guinea-Bissau international netted 12 times in Ligue 1 last term but was unable to stop his side from being relegated.
Aston Villa and Everton will be looking to pick up their first points of the 2023/24 season when they meet at Villa Park on Sunday.
Unai Emery’s troops were thrashed 5-1 by Newcastle United in their opening fixture, while the Toffees racked up 2.73 expected goals (xG) against Fulham but failed to score, losing 1-0.
Kick-off is at 14:00 BST.
The hosts make one change from Gameweek 1, with Pau Torres coming in for the injured Tyrone Mings, who is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a serious knee injury.
That means Moussa Diaby and Ollie Watkins continue up front, with Leon Bailey once again preferred to Youri Tielemans on the right.
As for Everton, they also make one alteration.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is fit to lead the line after completing 90 minutes in a midweek friendly, so Neal Maupay drops to the bench, having fluffed two big chances against Fulham.
GAMEWEEK 2 LINE-UPS
Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Bailey, Kamara, Luiz, McGinn, Diaby, Watkins
Subs: Olsen, Marschall, Carlos, Chambers, Tielemans, Coutinho, Traore, Archer, Duran
Everton XI: Pickford, Patterson, Keane, Tarkowski, Young, Garner, Doucoure, Gueye, Onana, Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin
Subs: Virginia, Godfrey, Mykolenko, Branthwaite, Onyango, Cannon, Maupay, Danjuma, Dobbin
Everton manager Sean Dyche says everything lined up in the week to give Dominic Calvert-Lewin a start against Aston Villa following an injury.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin starts for Everton against Aston Villa as Sean Dyche welcomes back his talisman.
The Blues boss acknowledged the forward was “in his thinking” for the trip to Villa Park after a summer largely spent rebuilding his fitness following injury troubles that have persisted for the past two seasons.
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Neal Maupay, who makes way for Calvert-Lewin, is on the bench alongside Vitalii Mykolenko, Tom Cannon and Danjuma – all of whom are building towards match fitness after lay-offs over towards the end of pre-season.
With Andre Gomes absent due to a calf issue, Dele out with a longer term issue and Jean-Phillipe Gbamin not currently with the Everton squad, 20-year-old Tyler Onyango is the only centre midfielder on the bench.
Everton team: Pickford, Patterson, Keane, Tarkowski, Young; Garner, Gueye, Onana, Doucoure, Iwobi; Calvert-Lewin. Subs: Virginia, Godfrey, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Onyango, Danjuma, Dobbin, Maupay, Cannon.
