Everton Hot On Wharton Trail
Everton boss Sean Dyche wants to win the race for Blackburn Rovers midfield diamond Adam Wharton. But the Goodison chief will have to find straight cash to beat Newcastle United to his signature as he closes in on a major capture.
Dyche was willing to let striker Ellis Simms go as part of the deal but Blackburn would rather have cash than take an exchange and Everton are trying to raise it.
Ironically the sale of Simms to Coventry may help that but they still plan to shift others in a summer revolution.
Rovers would need around £15 million guaranteed for Wharton and Everton could go that far, particularly if they find a buyer for Amadou Odana.
Dyche could also have a better sales pitch than Newcastle who see Wharton as a long term prospect and even one they would loan back to Blackburn.
Everton could offer the top talent an immediate crack at the Premier League. Their needs are greater and they have lost Tom Davies already from that part of their squad.
It would be a blow for Blackburn to lose Wharton so soon but owners Venkys need to balance the books after writing another £20 million cheque recently following a failed promotion campaign.
Venkys are also faced with problems transferring funds from India in the last year because of new government regulations in their homeland.
Story courtesy of Alan Nixon @reluctantnicko.