Everton have learned the full extent of the potential fee that defensive transfer target Max Aarons could command.
The Toffees were linked with the home-grown Norwich City right-back just before the start of the January transfer window, with the belief that he was being eyed as an ideal long-term replacement for 32-year-old club captain Seamus Coleman.
Over the summer transfer window, Everton brought in Aarons’ former teammate Ben Godfrey from Norwich City, with the young centre-back commanding a fee of £25m.
In a further setback for Everton’s transfer plans, reports by Sky Sports have revealed that the Toffees will need to offer the Canaries an even higher fee of £35m to procure Aarons’ services.
The revelation came amid reports that last season’s Bundesliga and Champions League winners Bayern Munich had held initial discussions with parties close to the player over a deal, in which the Bavarians were quoted the figure.
Sky Sports claimed that the German champions have been scouting the defender for the last two years and, by implication, has formed part of a wider transfer strategy in Bavaria.
Communicating through an intermediary, Norwich appear to be in no rush to offload one of their key assets in Aarons, who is contracted to Carrow Road until 2024.
The 21-year-old was reportedly closing in on a move to Barcelona in September, only for the deal to collapse at the 11th hour, with the Blaugrana signing Ajax full-back Sergino Dest instead.
Aarons has impressed in Norwich’s promotion push, playing in every minute of their 29 Championship games this season. He has contributed offensively with a goal and three assists. [Transfermarkt]
Read Everton Verdict
Aarons certainly appears to be highly-regarded in the upper echelons of European football, which would suggest that he is a tremendous young talent who plays with a maturity beyond his years.
He would be a smart acquisition for any suitor – it is merely a question of whether Everton would be best-placed looking for better value in a cheaper deal.
