Fulham views La Liga hitman El Bilal Toure as a potential Aleksandr Mitrovic replacement as Premier League rivals Everton make a £34 million offer.
While Everton needs a new center-forward at all costs this summer, it seems that Fulham’s interest in 21-year-old El Bilal Toure is driven instead by the potential departure of Aleksandr Mitrovic.
According to reporter Sacha Tavolieri, Marco Silva’s side view Toure as a leading target to take the Serbian’s place. But with Mitrovic seemingly likely to stay put for at least another season at Craven Cottage – for now, at least – Everton presumably has little to fear as things stand from Fulham.
Tavolieri adds that Everton will pay the £34 million release clause in Toure’s UD Almeria contract. The Ivorian-born Mali international would take home around £ 70,000 a week during a five-year deal at Goodison Park.
Everton leads the race for El Bilal Toure
“I understand now Everton have formally expressed to UD Almeria by mail their intention to trigger the release clause of 40 million euros,” Tavolieri writes on Twitter. “But they want to do it in three to four installments.
“Fulham considers El Bilal Toure as a priority target if Aleksandar Mitrovic leaves this summer.
“A lot of agents are speaking about the striker in Europe. The market makes the situation a bit messy. Wait and see.”
Toure scored seven goals last season as Almeria avoided relegation from La Liga. He scored an equaliser against Atletico Madrid and a winner against eventual champions FC Barcelona.
It remains to be seen how Almeria respond to Everton’s attempts to stump up that Traore fee in ‘instalments’. The Toffees at least have some money to spend this summer after selling Anthony Gordon and Moise Kean for a combined fee of around £70 million since the turn of the year.
Kean joined Juventus on a permanent basis in May. There are also doubts surrounding the future of Neal Maupay.
Wolves and Nottingham Forest are reportedly keen on Toure too.