Everton plan deadline-day move for Zaha
Cash-plus-player offer likely for Palace winger Watford reject improved £40m bid for Doucoure
Everton will push to sign Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha up until tomorrow’s 5pm transfer deadline, despite having an improved bid rejected.
The Merseyside club have also had another bid for Abdoulaye Doucoure turned down by Watford, who told their Premier League rivals they are wasting their time because the midfielder will not be sold in the window.
Having had a £32 million offer for Doucoure rebuffed, Everton made a £40 million bid for the French midfielder and could, as with Zaha and despite Watford’s stance, come back with an improved offer.
Everton have had more success in their pursuit of a right-back and a deal has been agreed with Monaco to take French World Cup winner Djibril Sidibe on loan for the season with an option to buy. The 27-yearold, who has a history of injuries, will undergo a medical today and will provide competition for Seamus Coleman.
The latest bid for Zaha, 26, is not thought to be significantly more than the £52 million Palace rejected last month, but may involve a player as part of the overall package.
Everton know that Palace want a striker and could have included Cenk Tosun, who is not wanted by head coach Marco Silva, in their offer.
Zaha has made it clear he wants to leave Palace and, after an offer from Arsenal was rejected, he is keen to move to Goodison Park. It would still be a surprise if Palace let him leave as there is little time to sign a replacement and they have already sold Aaron Wan-bissaka to Manchester United for £50million.
Even if Zaha is not sold this week he will push for a move until the window closes in Europe. Meanwhile, Everton’s £25million striker, Moise Kean, insists racism did not force him out of Italian football.
The 19-year-old took on the racists when scoring for Juventus in their 2-0 win at Cagliari in April, reacting to the jeers of home fans. That provoked controversy when team-mate Leonardo Bonucci suggested Kean was partially responsible for the crowd’s reaction.
Kean revealed Bonucci was sorry for his comments, saying: “I spoke with him later and he apologised. He said he was wrong and didn’t know what he was talking about.”
The Italy international insisted his exit from Turin was unrelated to that episode. He says he rejected an offer to stay in Italy because he wanted to play in England.
“No, there is no connection. Absolutely not. I like Everton and the Premier League. This is why I am here,” said Kean. “Everton, like me, is looking to the future.”
Everton fans have prepared a banner to welcome the 19-year-old and congratulate him on his courage in taking on the offenders.
“It’s beautiful because racism is horrendous and we have to fight against the racists,” said Kean.
Kean added that he gave up Champions League football because he believed he could experience it at Everton. “I met [sporting director] Marcel [Brands] first. I like his ideas.
“I spoke to Cristiano [Ronaldo] but I knew enough on my own. To follow my dreams and work hard – that is what Cristiano told me.
“It is the ambition of any player to bring his team to the Champions League. I want to bring Everton into the Champions League.”