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Everton are one of three European clubs ‘interested’ in signing Paris Saint-Germain striker Hugo Ekitike this summer, according to reports.

Sean Dyche is keen to add another striker to his squad before the transfer window closes. That is no surprise, considering Neal Maupay has been in shocking goal-scoring form, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin is still struggling with injuries.

Everton netted just 34 goals last season and as a result came unbearably close to being relegated for a second consecutive campaign.

They have brought in players such as Arnaut Danjuma (loan), Jack Harrison (loan), Youssef Chermiti (£15m) and Ashley Young (free) this summer, but Dyche wants more attacking players through the door.

As previously noted by TEAMtalk, Ekitike is one option the Toffees are looking at. The 21-year-old signed for PSG last summer but hasn’t really hit the ground running at the Parc des Princes.

Ekitike has so far made 33 appearances across all competitions for the French giants, scoring four goals and making four assists. This is in contrast to his time with former club Reims, where he scored 11 in 28 outings.

Despite struggling for form, the Frenchman is still considered to be one of the most promising strikers in Ligue 1, so could prove to be a good long-term investment for Everton.

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Everton eye in-demand Ekitike

According to French journalist Fabrice Hawkins, Everton are one of three European clubs with a concrete interest in signing Ekitike this summer.

On Twitter, Hawkins said: “AC Milan, Everton and Frankfurt are interested in Hugo Ekitike.

“PSG haven’t received any written offers yet. Despite his desire to stay in Paris, the latest signals sent by his management push him to reflect [and move elsewhere].”

As suggested by Hawkins, Ekitike is happy at PSG, but it seems he isn’t in manager Luis Enrique’s plans. As a result, the striker’s agents are pushing him to make a move away from the French club.

PSG are reportedly willing to sell the youngster for what they bought him for, too – approximately €35m (approx. £30.1m). Whether or not Everton can match that fee remains to be seen.

Dyche was asked in a recent interview if Everton had made an approach for Ekitike, to which he replied ‘not to my knowledge.’

Since then, several Everton sources have suggested that club majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri is personally trying to push the deal through, without the knowledge of everyone behind the scenes.

Moshiri has spearheaded some questionable transfer dealings for the Toffees over the last few years, so Blues fans will be hoping that he has got this one right.

Everton will have to move quickly if they want to get a deal done for Ekitike, though, with AC Milan and Eintracht Frankfurt firmly in the race for his signature.

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