Everton are reportedly making significant moves in the summer transfer window, with Turkish outlet A Spor claiming the Toffees are plotting a bid for Galatasaray’s in-form left-winger, Barış Alper Yılmaz.
The Turkish international enjoyed a stellar season, emerging as one of the Süper Lig’s standout performers.
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He recorded his most prolific campaign to date under Okan Buruk, contributing to an impressive 20 goals across all competitions for the league-winning Galatasaray side.
His dazzling displays in attack have not gone unnoticed, placing him on the radar of several prominent European clubs, including Everton, who are actively seeking to bolster their offensive firepower for the upcoming season.
A Spor suggests that the Merseyside club has already “approached” Yılmaz regarding a potential transfer to Goodison Park this summer. The report indicates that Everton is prepared to submit an initial formal offer of £20 million, plus add-ons, to the Turkish giants to secure the winger’s services.
However, Everton’s prospective opening bid might fall short of Galatasaray’s demands. The Turkish club is reportedly holding out for a fee closer to £29 million to sanction the departure of the 25-year-old from Istanbul this summer.
Everton’s keen interest in Yılmaz is understandable given their struggles in front of goal last season.
Goalscoring and creativity were among their most glaring issues in the Premier League, where they managed to accumulate only 42 goals in 38 games. Only relegated Ipswich Town (36), Leicester City (33), and Southampton (26) scored fewer goals.
The Toffees also concluded the season without a single player reaching double figures in goals or assists in the league, with Iliman Ndiaye netting nine goals and Beto eight, while Dwight McNeil’s seven assists highlighted the club’s low creative output.
A potential move for Yılmaz signals David Moyes’s intent to directly address these offensive shortcomings.
Once described as “very special” by his former manager Selçuk İnan, Yılmaz possesses the qualities—including top-flight experience, creative spark, goal-scoring prowess, and a winning mentality—to significantly improve the team’s attack.
Furthermore, his reported £29 million valuation offers a relatively “cut-price” option for the Friedkin Group, meaning they wouldn’t need to “break the bank” to acquire a player capable of helping the club improve on their 13th-place finish last season.