Julian Draxler has reportedly been targeted by Everton.
A report in the Independent claims that the Toffees want to sign the German winger who last week sensationally told German outlet Bild that he wants to leave current club Wolfsburg.
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The German international attacker, 22, only signed for Wolfsburg from Schalke last summer for $40 million but he now wants out. Arsenal have been linked with Draxler over the past 12 months but Ronald Koeman is apparently trying to move in and sign Draxler. Could this mean the deal to seal Lukaku is edging closer?
Apparently Draxler has a $82 million release clause which seems like a huge sum but if Everton do sell Lukaku then they’ll have some cash to splash. That said, new owner Farhad Moshiri has promised to spend big to bring good times back to Goodison Park and so far all we’ve heard about are high-profile exits with John Stones linked with a $65 million move to Manchester City.
Draxler can operate anywhere across the attack but seems most effective as a winger cutting in from the flank. He looked good for Germany at EURO 2016 and had a solid season for Wolfsburg last season, scoring nine goals in 34 appearances.
The Sun are reporting that both Southampton and Everton are interesting in Sporting Lisbon striker Islam Slimani who has apparently handed in a transfer request. The Algerian international, 28, has spent the last four years at Sporting but reports in Portugal suggest he wants a fresh challenge.
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Per the report, an unnamed club is said to have made a bid of $21 million and both Everton and Southampton are said to be keen on Slimani. The Toffees have Romelu Lukaku and Arouna Kone in attack but Lukaku has been consistently linked with a move to former club Chelsea over the summer. As for Saints, they lost Graziano Pelle this summer but do have Charlie Austin, Shane Long and Jay Rodriguez as central strikers.
Swansea City look set to complete the signing of Spanish striker Fernando Llorente from Sevilla for around $6.5 million.
Sky Sports say that Llorente, 31, will sign a two-year deal at the Liberty Stadium as the Swans look to bolster their attack after Bafetimbi Gomis joined Marseille on loan this summer, plus Eder and Alberto Paloschi have moved on.
Llorente has previously played for Juventus, Athletic Bilbao and has won the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championships with Spain. He is strong in the air and can hold the ball up and will certainly give Swansea’s manager Francesco Guidolin an alternative option to the pace of Andre Ayew up front.
Mostly a bit-part player for Sevilla last season in La Liga and during their run to yet another Europa League title, Llorente will add experience to the Swans and can expect to get plenty of minutes under his belt.
