Everton send scouts to 31-goal Boakye Yiadom
Everton have sent scouts to watch Red Star Belgrade’s prolific striker Richmond Boakye Yiadom as the Ghanaian is attracting interest from clubs across Europe, according to Serbian publication HotSport.
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The 24-year-old has been in a rich vein of form throughout 2017 – scoring 31 goals so far for both club and country – and his goalscoring exploits have not gone unnoticed.
Chelsea are sending their scouts to watch Boakye in Red Star’s clash with Arsenal in the Europa League on Thursday night, amid rumours Blues boss Antonio Conte is keen on a reunion with a player he once had at Juventus.
Celtic are also casting their eye over the Ghana international as they are looking to make a list of potential replacements for Moussa Dembele, who has an uncertain future at Celtic Park with the sharks circling.
Swansea City and Crystal Palace are also believed to be monitoring the situation, as are clubs across Europe with Borussia Monchengladbach, Anderlecht, CSKA Moscow and Fenerbahce been named.
Everton had scouts present last month when Boakye fired the winner for Red Star in their Europa League tie with Cologne.
The Toffees are desperate for goals following the sale of Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United in the summer and manager Ronald Koeman has come in for some criticism from fans with the side sitting in 16th place in the Premier League after heavily investing in the playing staff during the transfer window.
The Merseyside outfit have scored just five times in eight league games and conceded 13 goals despite £25million shelled out on a new defender in Michael Keane.
Valued at around £10m, many of club may be willing to take a pun on Boakye but Everton will be hoping to pull it off as they did for Henry Onyekuru in the summer.
Onyekuru, who is currently on loan at Anderlecht, was one of the most sought-after players in Europe after a prolific spell at Belgian side KAS Eupen where he scored 28 times in 57 appearances.
A last-gasp penalty from Wayne Rooney rescued a point for Everton at Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday and they welcome Arsenal to Goodison Park on October 22 after hosting French side Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday evening.