This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
According to Italian media outlet AreaNapoli.it, Everton are interested in signing free-agent Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and his potential arrival at Goodison Park would surely deal a fatal blow to Cenk Tosun’s already-floundering career with the Toffees.
What’s the word, then?
Well, AreaNapoli report that the Merseyside outfit have sounded out the 6 foot 5 striker’s agent Mino Raiola about a potential move, and they would be willing to pay him wages of €4m (£3.4m) per year to sign – making him the top earner as a result.
The Swede is available for nothing having left MLS outfit LA Galaxy last month, having scored a remarkable 53 goals in 58 games for the American club.
Ibrahimovic’s only previous spell in England came when he netted 29 times in 53 outings for Manchester United in the 2016/17 and 2017/18 campaigns.
AreaNapoli add that Everton are also dreaming of having Carlo Ancelotti in the dugout, with the Italian working with the 38-year-old centre-forward at Paris Saint-Germain previously.
Did he play for Everton? Simple question but a lot tougher than you think…
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End of the line for Tosun
It’s fair to say that the Turkey international’s first two years with Everton have been nothing short of a disaster.
Big things would have been expected of the striker when he signed from Besiktas for £27m in January 2018, but he has made just 49 appearances and scored 10 goals in all competitions since.
It has certainly been another frustrating campaign for the 28-year-old under Marco Silva, starting just two games and racking up 247 minutes of playing time.
He has had to watch on from the sidelines while the likes of Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Moise Kean have played ahead of him as a lone striker, and even when caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson selected two against Chelsea on Saturday, he was left as an unused substitute.
The arrival of another centre-forward in Ibrahimovic, who would surely want to be guaranteed a lot of minutes and perhaps even a regular spot on the team-sheet given his stature, would only push him further down the pecking order.
Everton rejected a loan offer for Tosun in January 2018, but they may not stand in his way 12 months on if a similar proposal arrives, be it temporary or permanent – especially if they sign up Zlatan.
In other Everton news, Paul Joyce says the Toffees are “on the brink” of appointing a 56-year-old as the club’s new manager…
