Everton have sent a delegation to Istanbul to clinch Cenk Tosun’s £25million signing from Besiktas amid fears they may miss out on the Turkey striker.
Sam Allardyce is worried Everton may be beaten to Tosun and a number of European sides, including Roma, Valencia and Red Bull Leipzig also want the hitman.
The Blues have underlined their intent to land top target Tosun by sending a delegation, which includes director of football Steve Walsh, to Turkey.
Everton hope to reach agreement with Besiktas over the weekend ahead of the opening of the transfer window on Monday.
They feel Tosun, who has netted 14 times this season, can solve their goalscoring problems and they have been without a proper No 9 since selling Lukaku in the summer.
When asked if Tosun was close to being done, Allardyce said: “It’s in the wind. There’s an interest obviously because we’re actively looking for a front man.
“But whether we are the ones to complete that deal or not, we will see. The interest from other clubs around Europe is our biggest worry if we are to secure that transfer.”
Allardyce claims he would ideally like three players next month to strengthen his attack and the full-back positions.
“I think if the players were available, then three would be the maximum for me,” said the Everton boss. “That would give us a chance to sustain our position and maybe do better.
“I need more goals in the side than we have at the moment and we are struggling to score goals.”
Allardyce admits he would love to be reunited with his former Blackburn midfielder Steven N’Zonzi, who has been told he can leave Sevilla, but says that is dependant on him moving players out first.
He knows the squad he inherited from Ronald Koeman is top heavy with midfielders and he needs to move out the likes of Davy Klaassen and Mo Besic.
“I would take Steven N'Zonzi tomorrow,” said Big Sam. “He’s one of my better buys in my lifetime, only €650,000 from France to Blackburn Rovers.
“For me, knowing him from that age and knowing him now, yes, I would like him. But with the amount of midfield players I have at the moment, I’d have to move some player out to bring a player like Steven in.”