Jim White has claimed on talkSPORT that Everton are still trying to sign Michy Batshuayi from Chelsea before the transfer window shuts.
Speaking on the Jim White Show on Tuesday morning at 11.20am, the broadcaster, who has close links to Everton owner Farhad Moshiri, delivered an update on the club’s bid to land a new striker by 31 January.
“Everton are working on Michy Batshuayi. They want to bring him there. Whether they can is another matter,” White said.
OPINION
Batshuayi has been linked with Everton in recent weeks, but the club have yet to secure a breakthrough in their pursuit of the Belgium international. It will be gratifying for Toffees, though, that the Goodison top brass have not given up hope of landing the player before the window slams shut. Certainly, Everton are in need of a blue-chip front man and have been ever since Batshuayi’s countryman Romelu Lukaku was sold to Manchester United two summers ago. It has been reported that Chelsea want £40million for the 25-year-old, the kind of fee he has done little to merit through his recent performances, which included a loan spell this season at Valencia. Monaco have admitted they are also trying to sign Batshuayi, but have yet to reach an agreement with his parent club. Chelsea want a permanent deal rather than a loan, so an Everton hijack is on the cards if they can offload another of their senior players over the next nine days.