- Everton register an enquiry for Levante striker Karl Etta Eyong
- Ipswich Town have already opened club-to-club talks over a transfer
- Levante want a fee between £25million and £30million for the forward
Everton have made an enquiry for Levante striker Etta Eyong, according to transfer journalist Ben Jacobs, though Ipswich Town have moved first by opening club-to-club talks for the Cameroon international.
Jacobs reported that contact between Ipswich and Levante is already underway, with Eyong prioritising a Premier League move this summer. Levante want a fee between £25million and £30million — broadly in line with reports out of Spain suggesting his release clause sits at €30m generally, rising to €40m for English clubs specifically.
Why Eyong, and why now
Eyong turned down a CSKA Moscow bid worth more than €25m back in January, choosing instead to wait for a move to England. He joined Levante from Villarreal last summer for a modest fee.
He scored seven goals with four assists in 33 league appearances, despite starting only 18 of them – numbers that have put him on the radar of clubs well above Ipswich and Everton’s level over the past year, including Barcelona and Tottenham at various points.
Ipswich’s interest is driven by necessity. Ivan Azon and Chuba Akpom, who helped fire them to promotion on loan, are both returning to their parent clubs this summer, leaving a thin forward line that needs rebuilding.
Where Everton fit in
Everton’s enquiry is, for now, lighter touch – interest registered rather than talks opened – and comes with the usual pre-season complications. Moyes already has Beto and Thierno Barry on the books, and Barry has been linked with a move to RB Leipzig this summer.
Selling him first would free up both space in the squad and funds to put toward Eyong, who outscored both existing strikers in combined goal contributions last season.
This is the latest in a run of forward-line moves Everton have explored this window, alongside the reported Liam Delap loan interest – a club clearly shopping around before settling on its priority signing rather than committing to one name… for now.
Whether Everton push beyond an enquiry will likely hinge on Barry’s situation resolving first. Ipswich, with a clearer need and a head start in talks, look better placed to get a deal done if Eyong’s preference really is the Premier League over a return to the title race for his signature elsewhere.
The question is, will he be happy to, potentially, face a relegation battle with the Suffolk side, who are among the bookies’ favourites to return to the Championship?
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