West Ham's new target is also being eyed by Tottenham Hotspur and Inter MilanWest Ham's new target is also being eyed by Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan
West Ham's new target is also being eyed by Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan | Getty Images
Everton have been linked with playmaker Albert Gudmundsson and could take advantage of a managerial shock.
David Moyes somehow managed to squeeze more goals out of his Everton squad last season with some fine tuning but will be hoping that the summer recruitment gives him an even bigger helping hand.
The Hill Dickinson Stadium needs a new hero and the big Serbian could be the perfect character to unite a support not entirely happy about having to up sticks and move home.
Everton linked with move for playmaker Albert Gudmundsson
Another who could light up the new ground is Albert Gundmundsson, who has been linked with a move from Genoa according to The i. The Iceland international spent last season on loan at Fiorentina with a twist in the playmaker’s situation.
The Violas have an option to buy the 27-year old, however, Raffaele Palladino has been sacked as their manager only three weeks after signing a new deal with the Serie A outfit.
There will be a deadline on that agreement and not many players would sign for a club without knowing who the manager is first, it is a situation that Everton could take advantange of and help Gudmundsson achieve a lifelong dream.
Speaking to The i, the 27-year old creator said when asked about following in his father’s footsteps: “I wouldn’t say I am trying to copy his career or anything – I don’t want to play in England or in France because he played there.
“I like the Premier League a lot, that’s why I want to play there. It is about my own path. I could see myself staying for longer (at Fiorentina) but that is not in my hands. It is up to them to decide whether they keep me or not. You are aware of the interest, I read the news just like every other football fan, because I am one. Some of it is total bull***t, some of it is true. But I don’t get my hopes up until anything is concrete.
“The Premier League is definitely something that interests me. It is the best league in the world. Hopefully one day I will be playing there. It is just the tempo and the pace, how fast the game goes. All the stadiums are full, the fans are very close to the pitch and you can feel the atmosphere even watching the games on TV.
“Everyone can beat everyone at some point, it is so unpredictable, so that makes it an amazing league.”
What would Gudmundsson cost Everton?
Gudmundsson spent most of last season playing as a second striker or No.10 but is also capable of playing off the wing.
With eight goals and three assists, the 39-cap star wasn’t exactly prolific, however, he provided the sort of link between midfield and attack that Everton was sometimes missing.
Genoa paid only £1m for Gudmundsson but charged Fiorentina a sizeable loan fee of around £4.5m for his services. There are mixed reports about whether it is an option or obligation to buy clause but the fee is acknowledged as being just over £14m per Italian journalist Matteo Dovellini. Well within Everton’s transfer budget.
Gudmundsson’s own comments suggest that it is an option though and Everton could pull a fast one.
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