Everton chief Steve Walsh is in Turkey as he aims to finalise the £25million deal for Besiktas star Cenk Tosun.
The Toffees have moved fast to beat the competition to the signature of the 26-year-old hotshot.
CLAIM YOUR FREE £30 BET Check out this new sign up offer from Sun Bets
And their director of football met the striker for talks in Istanbul today with the hope of finalising the move.
New Everton boss Sam Allardyce admitted his worry that his side could be pipped to the signing of Tosun earlier this week.
He said: “There’s an interest obviously because we’re actively looking for a front man, but the interest from other clubs around Europe is our biggest worry if we are to secure that transfer.”
Big Sam knows that he must boost the goal threat within his squad once the transfer window re-opens.
CLAIM YOUR FREE £20 BET Sun Bets are offering this great offer when you sign up and bet a fiver
PLAY DREAM TEAM WEEKENDER Pick seven players to win 10k!
Despite being unbeaten since taking charge at Goodison Park, he says the lack of firepower must addressed.
He said: “We’re consistently defending well, but on the opposite, we’re not attacking very well in possession.
“I feel the problem with the players is their ability to do the transition correctly and that has been a problem.
“I think that’s the reverse of when I came in. When I came in, they played out from the back, played through midfield and when they lost it, they lost a goal.
“When they went into transition, they couldn’t defend properly and hence, conceded 25 goals in the last eight games before I got here.
“I think it’s the reverse now. I think they are defending superbly well now, but in transition, they can’t turn the ball into good passing opportunities and get at the opposition and create more chances.
“I wouldn’t expect that against Liverpool and certainly not Chelsea, but I still would have said what possession we had, we should have done better and West Brom was a big concern for me.”
Tosun’s arrival would certainly help Everton in front of goal if his recent scoring record is anything to go by.
He has bagged 14 for club and country in 26 matches this season and helped Besiktas to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Meanwhile, Allardyce has also revealed he will try to sign Sevilla’s wantaway midfielder Steven N’Zonzi if he can offload some unwanted men from his squad.
He added: “I would take Steven N’Zonzi tomorrow. He is one of my better buys in my lifetime, only £650,000 from France to Blackburn Rovers. He became young player of the year and player of the year in his first season at Blackburn Rovers when we finished 10th.
“He was a terrific pinch out of the French leagues and has gone on to do terrific things in his career.
“For me, knowing him from that age and knowing him now, yes I would like him but with the amount of midfield players I have at the moment I’d have to move some player out to bring a player like Steven in.”