Everton’s pursuit of Christ Inao Oulai looks set to face sterner competition, with Fiorentina reported to have increased their offer to Trabzonspor for the Ivory Coast midfielder.
Turkish outlet Fanatik claims the Serie A side are now in “intense” negotiations over a deal, with Trabzonspor holding out for a fee in the region of £34.1m.
Everton were credited with interest in the 20-year-old earlier this week, with the club said to have been monitoring him closely, but Fiorentina’s movement suggests they may now be closer to agreeing a deal than any of his other suitors.
Barcelona, PSG and Chelsea have also been credited with interest in Oulai over recent months, underlining the scale of the competition Everton always faced for his signature. The midfielder currently earns around £8,000 a week at Trabzonspor, a modest sum in footballing terms that has done little to dampen the level of interest from elsewhere.
Nothing is confirmed on either side, and Fiorentina’s advanced talks don’t guarantee a deal will be completed. But with Trabzonspor said to be waiting on an agreement rather than actively resisting a sale, Everton may need developments elsewhere in the chase if they’re to keep Oulai as a realistic target this summer.
This piece draws on reporting from Fanatik, via Goodison News, and has not been independently confirmed by Everton, Fiorentina or Trabzonspor.
