Claim Everton’s ‘first bid’ for player was for €20m – Toffees going all out to try and secure talented forward

Everton’s first offer for Lorient forward Dango Ouattara was worth €20m, amid reports it had been rejected by the French side.

Everton are keen to add to their forward line this month after Frank Lampard’s side have struggled for goals this season.

The Blues boss is determined to improve both up front and in the wide areas and Ouattara has been named as one of the names on their list.

He’s been impressive for Lorient in Ligue 1 this season, with six goals and six assists in 17 games to his name so far.

A report earlier today stated that they had already submitted a bid to Lorient for the 20-year-old, although it had been deemed ‘insufficient’.

Ouest France now provide their own information, stating that the ‘first bid’ from Everton was €20m and has been ‘communicated’ to the French club. They don’t go as far as to suggest it has been rejected.

Such a figure would certainly be Everton going all out for the forward, though, given the state of their finances.

Lampard and co. have made it clear there are limited funds available this month for transfers, with it even suggested they need to move players out before even doing loan deals.

That makes a €20m bid for Ouattara seem fanciful, unless it is highly incentivised of perhaps broken into various payments, as several of Everton’s transfers in the summer were.