Everton linked again with Nantes striker Sala

Everton have reportedly joined the race to sign Nantes striker Emiliano Sala, who is valued at roughly £25 million.

Sala, 28, has found the net 13 times in 16 appearances for the French this season, and has already bettered his personal goal tally of 12 last campaign.

According to the Daily Mail, Everton representatives were in the stands at Nantes’ Stade de la Beujoire on Wednesday night, as the Argentinian scored one and assisted another in his side’s 3-2 win over Marseille.

The Blues will face competition for his signature, though, with Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock and assistant Kevin Blackwell also in attendance on Wednesday, as well as associates from Burnley, West Ham United and Leicester City.

On Sala, Warnock joked earlier today:

“I’d like someone who could score 25 goals in the next three months.

“He has scored some good goals this year. He didn’t have a very good game the other night, but he’s done well.”

Everton have struggled for goals from their front men this season, with winger Richarlison their top scorer with seven.

Recognised senior strikers Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Cenk Tosun and Oumar Niasse have just six goals between them this season; none of whom have scored since late October.

Niasse and Tosun, both recent January signings of Everton’s, have both been linked departures from Goodison Park lately.

Sala, a 6ft 3in forward, has spent his entire career in France, starting at Bordeaux before joining Nantes for a reported £1 million in July 2015 after loan spells at Orléans, Niort and Caen.

His October hat-trick in a 4-0 home win against Toulouse made him the first Nantes player to score three times in a match since Mamadou Diallo in February 2006.