EVERTON have reportedly been told to meet Sporting Lisbon star Bas Dost’s £54million release clause.
A Bola via Liverpool Echo claims the Toffees will now be looking elsewhere for a new striker after they were quoted the eye-watering figure.
Ronald Koeman failed to secure a like-for-like replacement when Romelu Lukaku was sold to Manchester United last summer.
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And with Everton struggling to find the back of the net this season, a new hitman is at the top of the Dutchman’s shopping list.
Reports earlier this week suggested that compatriot Dost was of interest to Koeman, with the 28-year-old scoring 34 goals in just 31 league appearances last season.
But it’s said that Everton will now abandon their interest after being told to pay a club-record fee for Dost’s signature.
The Merseysiders spent over £140million on new signings in the last window but find themselves just two points above the drop zone in the table.
They’ve won just two of their seven league games and have also struggled for form in Europe.
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Striker Sandro Ramirez is yet to score in 10 appearances for Everton, with Wayne Rooney netting just three times.
And Koeman will now be praying there’s someone available in January as he looks to save Everton’s season and shake the huge weight off his shoulders.
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That’s the beauty of Dream Team Weekender – there are no budget limitations so you can pick any player available from this weekend’s fixtures.
That means you don’t have to worry about only picking one star playmaker when Liverpool and Manchester United lock horns in the tastiest game of the season so far on Saturday.
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