Everton are mulling over a move to offer AFC Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser a contract at Goodison Park ahead of becoming a free agent, according to 90min.
Fraser has so far held off on putting pen to paper on new terms at the Vitality Stadium, where his current £27,000-per-week deal is due to expire in the summer.
Cherries boss Eddie Howe revealed in November that the 26-year-old was keeping his options open despite being eager to retain the Scotland international, who has started 20 of Bournemouth’s 27 Premier League fixtures this season.
Fraser’s soon availability on a free transfer has sparked a lot of interest in his services despite a reduced output this season, with North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur also thought to be considering putting a contract on the table.
Each side, plus Everton chiefs, are said to see Fraser’s creativity as a trait they would like in their summer arrivals, especially on a free transfer with the 11-cap ace looking more and more likely to walk out on Bournemouth with the Cherries inside the relegation places with ten games to play.
West Ham United were linked with an interest in signing Fraser this summer back in January, too, with manager David Moyes attracted to the forward and confident that he fits in with the profile being courted at the London Stadium.
Reports of the Irons’ interest also noted that Arsenal and Liverpool had been linked in the past, but claimed Gunners boss Mikel Arteta will be prioritising defensive reinforcements at the Emirates Stadium.
Would you welcome Fraser to Goodison Park?
Yes
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Fraser enjoyed a tremendous campaign for Bournemouth during the 2018/19 season with seven goals and 14 assists while starting 35 of his 38 Premier League appearances, but has seen his numbers fall drastically this term.
Over 27 outings from a possible 28, of which only 20 have been in the opening line-up, Fraser has managed to produce just one goal and four assists, while his assist for Jefferson Lerma’s initial equaliser against Chelsea last weekend was the Scot’s first in 15 games.
Fraser scored his only top-flight goal of the campaign on matchday five, too, and has not been unfortunate to see his numbers fall so much having only seen one of the five big chances that he’s created to date not converted.
The £27million-rated soon-to-be free agent has also taken an average of 0.6 shots per league game this term, while taking 43.0 touches, playing 1.6 key balls, 22.1 accurate passes (80%), delivering 0.9 accurate crosses (15%), making 0.4 successful dribbles (50%) and winning 2.2 ground duels (52%), per Sofa Score.
In other Everton news, the club have been linked with a young forward recording 2.0 accurate crosses per league game.