Everton back in with a shout for Joel Piroe **Latest
Friday, 28th Jul 2023 07:00 by Keith Haynes

Joel Piroe’s move away from Swansea looks a lot closer than some may think this morning with Atalanta, once mentioned as interested in Joel having agreed terms to sign El Bilal Toure from Almeria in Spain.

The twenty five million pound Côte d'Ivoire born forward was on the radar of Everton but due to their lack of positivity over the last two weeks this has seen him slip though their fingers. Ellis Simms has moved for a fee of around three and a half million to Coventry City so the Toffees’s have to look elsewhere.

We understand Piroe wants to be in the the premier league if he has a choice, and Everton with tentative interest from Nottingham Forest are his choice if a deal can be reached. A move to another Championship club is obviously less attractive for Joel so the door is now open for Everton to move sharply for the Dutchman. It sometimes does take the dominoes to fall correctly to get a player, and these days contracts are long drawn out affairs, and that’s before a fee is agreed in principle.

Swansea have only had very brief contact with Everton, but with the Championship season now only a week away they will want some rapid decision making from Goodison Park. If Piroe leaves that really only leaves Jerry Yates and Liam Cullen as genuine choices in attack now Morgan Whittaker has departed to Plymouth and Kyle Joseph to Blackpool. The long game that clubs are playing now is ‘leave any genuine attempt’ to sign Piroe to as late as possible. The outcome they hope will be a cheaper Piroe, but that’s not going to weaken Swansea City’s resolve and the price is clear and evident to Everton.

With no firm offers this summer for Piroe but ‘some’ inquiries the Swans know Piroe’s position. He wants to leave the club and if possible at the earliest opportunity so we do expect some news on this as next week moves on. If not then Piroe is a likely starter against Birmingham City next weekend.

Our last report on Piroe explained his situation.

That’s here —> Piroe situation clearer

The early pre season games have been important for Michael Duff as well. He has already referenced that he needs five or six players in as the doesn’t see the Under 21 side offering immediate solutions. That of course will be more about IF Joel departs, and it’s likely that part of the season is about to hot up for sure.