Everton have been dealt a potential setback to their chances of securing a move for one transfer target that the Toffees have reportedly been pursuing since the summer.
What’s the news?
According to a recent report from Football Insider, Sevilla are leading Everton, Leeds and Fulham in the race to sign Blackburn Rovers star Ben Brereton Diaz in the upcoming January transfer window.
The report adds that the Premier League trio all failed to sign the attacker from Rovers in the summer, with the Championship club apparently willing to entertain offers for him in January to avoid potentially losing him as a free agent at the end of the season.
In terms of Sevilla, their new manager Jorge Sampaoli is reportedly planning to place the Chilean at the heart of a rebuilding job after hearing good reviews about the player from members of the national team’s squad, which the 62-year-old used to manage.
Brereton Diaz a standout at Blackburn
Having made 144 senior appearances for the Lancashire club, the 23-year-old – who apparently had a price tag of £28.5m put on him last winter – has scored 39 goals and delivered 13 assists.
This season has seen Brereton Diaz find the net eight times in 16 Championship games while having more shots at goal (51) than any other player in the division at this stage of the campaign.
Described as an “elite” player by Gary Brazil, the Blackburn star would certainly be a useful addition to Frank Lampard’s side, as only three other clubs in the Premier League have taken fewer shots at goal this season than the Toffees (113).
However, with Sevilla – who are participating in this season’s Champions League – apparently in the hot seat to sign the attacker in January, this could scupper any chance that Everton may have of securing his signature, especially if the player fancies a new chapter in Spain rather than staying in England.
If the Merseyside club are still keen on signing the Championship star in January, they should do all that they can to convince him to make the step up to the Premier League and help the Toffees have a strong second half to their season.
