Good luck figuring out Everton’s transfer strategy right now. Just hours after wrapping up a £21 million (€25m) deal for Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney on Thursday, the Goodison Park hierarchy has been on the phone to Italy. The target? Mandela Keita.
According to Italian outlet Sport Parma, via Sport Witness, initial inquiries have already been made. But don’t expect a quick resolution. This one is messy. Parma want €30 million for the 24-year-old Belgian international, though word from inside the peninsula suggests they will shake hands on €25 million plus add-ons.
Everton, predictably, cannot pay that upfront.
Hamstrung by the Premier League’s strict Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) alongside Squad Cost Rules (SCR), the Merseyside club have reportedly asked for a multi-year payment schedule. They want to drip-feed the cash. Parma aren’t biting yet, especially with Atalanta hovering in the background. They have money to burn after shipping Marco Palestra off to Chelsea for a cool €57 million, with more cash on the way for Ederson. Worse still for the Toffees, Atalanta have already sorted personal terms with Keita. Contract duration, wages, all agreed.
The player is just waiting to see who blinks first.