According to the Liverpool Echo, Everton manager Sam Allardyce says he and the club will target more Champions League players in the summer transfer window.
What’s the word, then?
Well, Allardyce signed Cenk Tosun from Champions League last 16 side Besiktas during the January transfer window, while he watched Sevilla beat Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford on Tuesday night as the Spanish club secured their quarter-final spot.
The Liverpool Echo says he was scouting a “couple” of the La Liga outfit’s players against Jose Mourinho’s men, with midfielder Steven N’Zonzi one of those that has been linked with a move to Goodison Park previously, while Wissam Ben Yedder may have impressed with the 63-year-old after scoring a brace as a substitute.
The report adds that while Allardyce’s long-term future is far from certain with the club currently on a run of six straight defeats away from home in all competitions and because of his lack of popularity with the fans, he has signalled his intentions by already preparing for the club’s summer business.
Is targeting Champions League players the right strategy?
It can be of course, yes.
Everton’s long-term target is to be competing in the Champions League, and if they can sign players that already have experience of playing in the competition then that will not only bring more quality to their team, but also help them if and when they do qualify for it.
The pull of the Premier League and the financial possibilities for the players coming to England mean that it is a great time for clubs like the Merseyside one to target players from other established European clubs, and they should be taking advantage.
Will they move for any Sevilla players this summer?
It is likely that Everton and Allardyce will look for a new midfield partner for Idrissa Gueye this summer, and it would certainly be no surprise to see them make a move for N’Zonzi.
Meanwhile, left-back Sergio Escudero and centre-backs Simon Kjaer and Clement Lenglet could also be potential targets given the positions the Toffees need to strengthen at the end of the season.
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