Football League World
·5 July 2023
In partnership with
Yahoo sportsFootball League World
·5 July 2023
Ellis Simms is a wanted man by many Championship clubs in this summer transfer window, having enjoyed a prolific spell at Sunderland before returning to Everton in the winter to aid the Toffees' Premier League survival bid.
However, the 22-year-old only has 12 months left to run on his current contract at Goodison Park, and manager Sean Dyche is willing to let the forward leave for pastures new if the price is right, which is believed to be between the £7m and £10m mark.
Here are the latest updates on Simms' future as the transfer window hots up, with the likes of Swansea City, Ipswich Town, Sunderland and Blackburn all interested.
One of the host of Championship teams looking to acquire Simms' services are Swansea City, under the new management of Michael Duff.
It seems likely that the Swans will lose the prolific Dutchman Joel Piroe this summer, as like Simms the forward now has less than a year on his contract, leaving this summer window as the biggest chance they have of recouping any funds.
One of the teams interested in Piroe is Everton, and the two clubs have explored the possibility of an exchange for the duo, as reported recently by the Daily Mail.
Swansea aren't the only side linked with a swap deal, with the same stance involving Blackburn Rovers. Football Insider reported on Sunday that the Toffees would include the 22-year-old in a potential swap deal for the highly-rated Rovers defender Scott Wharton.
Due to the reported fee Everton are willing to accept should Simms move from Merseyside, the Northern Echo report that such high figures may see Sunderland set their sights on other targets, as the club are uninterested in entering a bidding war.
Having been a key figure in the Black Cats' early season form last season, accumulating seven goals in 17 games before being recalled by Everton, it is clear to see how highly-rated Simms is by Tony Mowbray and the Sunderland faithful.
Mowbray has also spoke about the club's need for another addition in this area of the park, as Ross Stewart looks unlikely to play a part in the season opener againt Ipswich Town.
"We could probably do with some help at the top end of the pitch over the next few weeks, and I’m sure we’re working very hard behind the scenes on that," he admitted.
One club which has seen an official bid rejected for Simms are newly-promoted Ipswich Town.
Tractor Boys boss Kieran McKenna is set to recieve backing in the window in an attempt to make the Blues a competitive force in the division straight away, after ending a four-year exile.
Football Insider also reported that Town have seen a £4m bid for Simms rejected in the past week, but still remains on the Northern Irishman's radar.
McKenna was quick to divert attention from these rumours when questioned following the club's first pre-season friendly, as per the East Anglian Daily Times.