Everton not out of race for Ukraine star despite Arsenal “bid”
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Some clubs are synonymous with big spending during the January transfer window, but Everton can’t be considered one of them. Their last marquee signing in the winter months was Nikica Jelavic in the 2011/12 season, acquired for a far-from-eye-watering £5.5m.
Generally during this mid-term transfer silly season, the Toffees either do nothing or watch frustratingly as players linked to them move elsewhere.
In the case of Andriy Yarmolenko, who has been fancied for a switch to Goodison Park on plenty of occasions during the season, it seemed like another rumoured Toffees target was slipping through the club’s fingers.
However, news of an Arsenal swoop emerging in the morning’s gossip pages shouldn’t signal the end of Everton’s interest.
Blue Merseysiders can breathe easy, because, in all likelihood, the Gunners haven’t agreed a fee for the Ukraine star as the Daily Star suggests.
According to that paper, who are basing their story on a report from Ukrainian publication Sport, Arsene Wenger’s outfit have matched Dynamo Kiev’s valuation of the right winger and will land the 26-year-old in the summer.
The fee is reported to be £23m, but spending that much on a position that already has ample cover in north London doesn’t make much sense from Wenger’s point of view.
Whether Roberto Martinez’s bosses can, or are willing to, splash that much cash on Yarmelenko is another matter.
Aiden McGeady, Aaron Lennon, Steven Pienaar and Kevin Mirallas are all around to deputise for Gerard Deulofeu on the right-hand side, so it’s likely the club would have to sell a few of those stars in order to make room for the 26-year-old.
Despite a rocky patch of five games without a win in the top flight, Everton remain 7/10 certainties with Ladbrokes to finish in the top half this season.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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