Everton face growing competition to sign Denis Bouanga as Atalanta emerge as a possible destination for the Saint-Etienne forward, according to Mohamed Toubache-TER.
Atalanta are understood to have expressed an interest in signing Bouanga during the summer transfer window, with St Etienne not opposed to parting with the 25-year-old after he enjoyed a 10-goal Ligue 1 campaign last season.
Talks are currently underway between the French and Italian outfits to see if an agreement can be found, though no formal offer has yet been tabled by the Serie A side who reached the Champions League Quarter-Finals in 2019/20.
Everton have previously been touted as a potential destination for Bouanga should he leave ASSE this summer, with it noted toward the end of July that the Toffees were ‘very hot’ to his situation and that an offer was anticipated.
At the time, we were expected to face competition from LOSC Lille and Stade Rennais, however Bouanga was thought to favour taking up a foreign challenge amid emerging interest from La Liga trio Real Betis, Sevilla and Valencia.
It remains to be seen if Atalanta are able to strike an agreement with St Etienne to sign Bouanga, or if Blues Director of Football Marcel Brands turns the club attention to the Gabonese forward once deals for Watford’s Abdoulaye Doucoure and Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez are secured.
Should Brands rival Atalanta for Bouanga?
Yes
No
Bouanga was a near-constant of head coach Claude Puel’s teamsheets following the former Southampton manager’s arrival at the Geoffroy Stadium in October, with the 14-cap Gabon winger earning 27 of his 36 appearances for the season during his tenure.
Puel’s coaching helped inspire nine of Bouanga’s Ligue 1 goals and two of his three assists, while also overseeing each of the 25-year-old’s two goals and sole assist in the Coupe de France before the French domestic season was called short.
Altogether, Bouanga struck the back of the net 12 times and provided five assists across all competitions last season for a goal involvement hit rate of one every 157.7 minutes.
He also played on average 13.8 accurate passes, delivered 0.7 key balls, took 2.4 shots, made 2.2 successful dribbles and won 6.7 duels Ligue 1 fixture, per SofaScore, and has started the new season on a promising beginning with 27 touches, one accurate cross, successful dribble, tackle and three duels won in his sole outing to date.
The Le Mans-born forward did squander his only big chance to score and lost possession 14 times before being replaced after 71 minutes against newly-promoted FC Lorient, however.