Everton are expected to increase their bid for El Bilal Toure.
Almeria are likely to sell the striker this summer but they will demand in excess of €30 million (£25.7m) from the Toffees, according to Spanish outlet IDEAL.
Toure joined Almeria from Reims on a six-year contract last year and went onto score seven goals in La Liga, including netting the only goal in the club’s first ever win against Barcelona.
Everton have been linked with the forward in recent weeks and the Mirror reported yesterday that they had launched a £25m bid for his signature.
The eight-figure fee would have made Toure the most expensive sale in Almeria’s entire history – even more than Darwin Nunez’s departure in 2020.
However, the club aren’t happy with that offer and will demand more if they are to part ways with the 21-year-old.
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Everton will now look to increase their bid as they look to bring Toure to the Premier League and it appears that Almeria expect them to meet their demands, with the report claiming that it ‘shouldn’t take many days for the sale to become a reality’.
El Bilal Toure could be one of Everton’s most expensive attackers ever
If Everton land El Bilal Toure this summer then the Mali international could become their third most expensive striker in history.
A €30m plus deal for the attacker would leave him behind only Richarlison and Romelu Lukaku – both of whom enjoyed great success at Goodison Park.
Given the Toffees’ current financial problems, Everton fans will be desperate to see Toure enjoy his time on Merseyside and help them avoid relegation this season.
Toure’s former manager David Guion was previously full of praise for the youngster during his time in France, saying: “He is a very complete boy. El Bilal has an ability to repeat efforts, he can keep the ball back to the goal and he is able to take the depth, even if he still has to work his technique in small perimeters and his touch of the ball.”
However, supporters won’t really know what to expect of their potential new signing until he steps foot on that pitch.