Big Sam on Luk-out for strike ace
SAM ALLARDYCE will scour the world for a striker to replace Romelu Lukaku.
And the new Everton boss has revealed funds up to £40million will not be a problem to find an attacker who can score 20 goals and more a season.
Allardyce said: “I have to say it is a priority. If we achieve anything going forward to get into the top half, we need a 20-goal-a-season goalscorer.
“In all fairness, I stayed in the Premier League with Jermain Defoe scoring 18 at Sunderland and Christian Benteke scoring 16 at Crystal Palace.
“It won’t be easy finding a 20-goal striker but I’ll be talking to our recruitment department and see where we are.”
One Everton idea is a cut-price January bid for Watford striker Troy Deeney.
Deeney, who would cost just north of £10m, is viewed as a very good option given the fact he is a proven goalscorer.
Everton looked at Deeney last summer but former boss Ronald Koeman blocked any move for the centre-forward.
Another striker under consideration is Leicester’s Islam Slimani, who has struggled since joining the Foxes from Sporting Lisbon for a club-record £28m.
Allardyce has also targeted Sevilla midfielder Steven Nzonzi, who played under him at Blackburn. He will hope to land the 28-year-old in next month’s transfer window, although Sevilla are unlikely to let him go without a fight.