Everton have reportedly been told to shell out £20 million to sign RC Strasbourg centre-forward Ludovic Ajorque.
According to a report by Football Insider, Everton sent scouts to watch RC Strasbourg centre-forward Ludovic Ajorque in action against AS Monaco in their Ligue 1 opener on Saturday. The Toffees are interested in signing the French striker in the ongoing transfer window but will have to shell out £20 million to secure his services.
Ludovic Ajorque joined RC Strasbourg Alsace in 2018 from then-French second division club Clermont Foot and has been among the goals since then. The 2020/21 season was the most fruitful campaign for him at Strasbourg, as he scored 16 goals in Ligue 1.
The 2021/22 season was quite impressive as well. While Ajorque came down to a tally of 12 strikes in the league campaign, he provided eight assists to make up for the lost goals. His performances over the last two seasons have attracted interest from multiple suitors, mainly from the Premier League.
Earlier reports have claimed that as many as seven clubs from England have been monitoring the French attacker’s situation, making it a tough task for the Toffees to sign him. Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Fulham and West Ham United have all been linked with the 28-year-old apart from Everton.
The report by Football Insider names Leicester City and Brentford as two other Premier League clubs who are keeping tabs on the French striker. But Everton have been quick to make a move, sending scouts to watch Ajorque in action in Ligue 1, as Strasbourg took on AS Monaco on Saturday.
Strasbourg are said to be open to the idea of selling Ajorque this summer but are demanding £20 million from Everton and other suitors to sanction the move. However, the Toffees need striking reinforcements desperately after Richarlison’s move to Tottenham Hotspur and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s latest long-term injury.
Salomon Rondon is currently the only recognised striker at the Merseyside club, but he missed the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in Everton’s first match of the new Premier League season. Thus, it is understandable that Everton are on the lookout for a striker, but it remains to be seen if they will fork out £20 million to secure his services.
