Manchester United ‘quoted £60m for Everton’s Amadou Onana
The 21-year-old played 90 minutes in Everton’s 1-0 defeat against Fulham on Saturday after featuring 35 times in his debut campaign at the club last season.
Man United are believed to be in the market for another central midfielder, especially after recent confirmed and potential outgoings.
The Dail
y Mail claims that United have firmed up their interest in the Everton man and the Toffee’s would want more than what Southampton are set to receive for Romeo Lavia.
Everton rate Onana higher than his young Belgian compatriot, believing he is further along in his development than Lavia.
Onana has nailed down a regular spot in the Belgium national team now, while Lavia has played just 12 minutes at senior level.
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With Lavia’s asking price sitting at around £50-60m, Everton would therefore look for a figure slightly higher.
However, United will need to sell before they can lodge a serious bid for Onana, due to Financial Fair Play restraints.
That is largely due to signing Amadou’s namesake Andre Onana from Inter Milan, as well as Rasmus Hojlund from fellow Italian side Atalanta BC and Mason Mount from Chelsea.
Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina would represent a much cheaper option at around £25m, but Onana is regarded highly at Old Trafford.
Everton are unlikely to accept any swap deal offers from United, preferring to be paid a fee in full, so Erik ten Hag will need to see some of the squad’s deadwood sold first.
Fred has already completed a move to Fenerbahce, while Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay remain West Ham United targets.
United are yet to accept West Ham’s bid for Maguire, but the England international was left on the bench as Victor Lindelof replaced Lisandro Martinez at half-time against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night, so a move away looks destined to happen.
The players United could offer Everton may not be of much interest to Sean Dyche, who continues to be on the lookout for attacking reinforcements after drawing another blank in their Premier League opener on Saturday.
Jack Harrison has been signed on loan from Leeds United, and the club hope they can agree a deal to sign Wilfried Gnonto from the Yorkshire club too
The publication reported on its website on Monday (14 August) that Boro will receive £15million for the striker, with that fee potentially rising to £15million.
Akpom scored 29 goals last season, with Everton and Leeds both having targeted the player had Boro not been promoted, which turned out to be the case [talkSPORT, 9 March].
“Chuba Akpom is travelling to Amsterdam today for a medical with Ajax,” according to Sky Sports. “Middlesbrough are receiving an initial fee of £10m which could rise to £15m.”
Everton have definitely improved in the final third this summer, in what was an area that needed massive work after the club’s struggles in recent seasons.
The issues going forward have continued into the new campaign, with the Toffees failing to find the back of the net in their Premier League opening day loss against Fulham.
The Cottagers won 1-0 at Goodison Park on Saturday (12 August), with Dyche handing Neal Maupay a starting role up top.
The striker failed to take advantage of the absence of main man Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is continuing his recovery from injury.
The Toffees have brought in Youssef Chermiti from Sporting Lisbon in an attempt to bring in more goals, but there is no doubt that fans would have welcomed Akpom with open arms in addition to the young Portuguese striker.
