Friday 5 January 2018 10:23, UK
Sam Allardyce says Everton have agreed a deal to sign Besiktas striker Cenk Tosun, subject to personal terms being finalised.
Sky sources understand that Everton will pay £27m for the 26-year-old, who is due in Merseyside for his medical, and Allardyce says the Turkey international could be registered in time for Friday's FA Cup clash with Liverpool.
The Everton manager said on Thursday: "I think it is personal terms, [that] is the final stage. After some long negotiation, we have got to that stage now.
"That might happen before the cup. We might get him registered before the cup, if we are lucky.
"There is a medical and all sorts to go through, so that might be very tight.
"Securing the player is the most important thing, because it has been the club's biggest area of concern, the number of goals we're capable of getting."
Asked what qualities had made Tosun his potential first signing since taking charge at Everton, Allardyce said: "Pedigree, really.
"I think the pedigree he has, what he has shown, the age that he is. We have not got that many players in that elite block of age in our squad.
"Hopefully, he will come to the club and show he's good value for money.
"I think if we get the transfer done and he is successful by scoring goals for us, it will be an exceptionally good deal that we've done, but it will be down to him when he signs on, that he proves us all right."
Tosun has been capped 25 times by Turkey and has been in fine form this season, scoring four goals in the Champions League to help Besiktas reach the last-16 for the first time.
Since taking charge in November, Allardyce has made it clear he is keen to add to Everton's options up front, with last season's top scorer Romelu Lukaku having been sold to Manchester United in the summer.
