Everton are in the market looking for a new number nine and have been linked with a few players in the past few days.
RC Lens’ Loïs Openda has now been added to the Toffees’ suitors list, according to French journalist Ignazio Genuardi.
The Belgium international joined the Ligue 1 side from Club Brugge last summer and has had a good start to his life at Lens, scoring nine goals and managing one assist from 20 games in all competitions.
Genuardi took to Twitter to explain AC Milan have identified the 22-year-old as the target for next summer. He adds the Serie A side have closely have followed him on several occasions in the recent month.
He also mentions Everton in a subsequent tweet. The journalist claims Frank Lampard’s side ‘made a bid’ to sign the striker, likely in the January window. The details of the offer isn’t mentioned, but the French club have ‘rejected’ it.
Du côté de la Premier League, Everton a effectué une tentative pour cet hiver, mais les Sang et Or ont repoussé l’offre.
— Ignazio Genuardi (@IgnazioGenuardi) January 18, 2023
Openda is the latest striker that Everton have failed to sign this month.
TuttoMercatoWeb stated on Tuesday Atalanta and Udinese have turned down the Merseyside club’s offers for Duván Zapata and Beto respectively, while an approach for Marko Arnautovic was deemed rather uninspiring by Bologna, who don’t intend on parting ways with one of their best players in January.