Everton have issued a statement denying reports, which suggested the club had improved their offer for sought-after Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha.
The Blues have confirmed that we were turned away by the Eagles over the weekend after lodging an initial £55million bid, but deny returning to the Selhurst Park natives with an alleged package that included outcast forward Cenk Tosun and rarely-seen midfielder James McCarthy.
Palace are believed to be holding out for their full £80million asking price given they are under no requirements to sell, as 5 ft 9 Zaha is contracted until the summer of 2023 on a £130,000-a-week deal penned in November.
Everton are reluctant to meet that figure, and have decided to pursue other targets ahead of the August 8 deadline after agreeing with Crystal Palace to end their pursuit.
The statement read, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo: “Everton Football Club categorically denies that a bid has been submitted to Crystal Palace for Wilfried Zaha that included an increased sum plus Cenk Tosun and James McCarthy.
“Everton and Crystal Palace have a very good relationship. A bid was made over the weekend, which was turned down.
“Both clubs agreed that was the end of the matter.”
With a move to Goodison Park now off the table, Zaha may be forced to stay with Crystal Palace going forward and wait for another opportunity to test himself at a higher level; given Arsenal are closing in on a deal for LOSC Lille ace Nicolas Pepe, after the forward carried out a medical with the North London side.