Danijel Arnautovic, the brother and agent of Marko Arnautovic, has rubbished reports that Everton have sought a transfer. The Bologna striker was said to be the Toffees’ top target.
Goodison Park chiefs are monitoring the market ahead of Tuesday’s deadline to add goals to their relegation-threatened squad. Everton scored just 15 goals during their 20 Premier League games under Frank Lampard this term. Only Wolves (12) have scored fewer so far.
Farhad Moshiri sacked Lampard this Monday as Everton sit just 19th in the table. Anthony Gordon and Demarai Gray were further his top scorers with three goals each. Only Dwight McNeil (2), who joined from Burnley for £20m last July, has also hit home more than once.
Danijel Arnautovic questions Everton’s interest in Marko Arnautovic’s transfer
Bologna star Arnautovic has emerged as an option to bolster the strike force at Everton in the final days of the transfer window. TuttoMercatoWEB reports the Toffees consider the former Stoke City and West Ham United hitman to be their top target with a bid possible.
I Rossoblu are loath to sell the Austrian this month, though. So, chiefs at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara outfit have slapped a €15-20m (£13m-17.5m) price tag on the 33-year-old. He has scored eight goals and assisted one during his 14 Serie A appearances so far this season.
Reports by The Telegraph have also cited Everton’s interest in a transfer with Bologna for Arnautovic this month. But the 106-cap international’s brother and agent, Danijel, has now poured cold on a move to Merseyside. He told the Bologna newspaper Il Resto del Carlino:
“I don’t know about requests from Everton at the moment. We haven’t received anything. We’ll see if it happens in the next few days. But it’s normal for a player of Marko’s calibre to have options.
“What I can say about his situation is that the only thing that matters, now, is that you recover as soon as possible and in the best way to be able to lend a hand to the team and your teammates and get back to scoring.”
Bologna are still awaiting Marko Arnautovic’s return from an injury
Bologna are currently awaiting Arnautovic’s return from a foot injury that has sidelined the striker since January 4. He has now missed five fixtures after sitting out their Serie A match with Spezia this Friday night. I Rossoblu boss Thiago Motta is unsure how long he will miss.
Motta has also responded to questions on Everton’s interest in a transfer with Bologna for Arnautovic. He admitted on Thursday, via TuttoMercatoWEB: “I don’t know, he never said nothing. Better ask Marko. Arnautovic is recovering but we don’t have recovery time.”