King: Everton may have to table £230k-a-wk wages to sign 'special' star as talks get underway

Everton could now step up their efforts to sign Harry Wilson from Fulham, with the winter window now officially shut.

Fulham have opened talks with Wilson over a new deal as the Cottagers showcase new levels of desperation to tie him down.

That is unlikely to deter Everton from swooping in for Wilson after making a last-gasp bid to sign the Wales international in January.

The Toffees weren’t successful as Wilson ultimately stayed at Fulham, but that opens him up to a potential free transfer exit in the summer.

That could see David Moyes and Co. table a fresh offer to Wilson, with a potential multi-million contract in the pipeline on Merseyside.

Everton backed to table contract offer for Harry Wilson

The addition of the 28-year-old would certainly go down well at the Hill Dickinson Stadium ahead of next season, that is for sure.

There are questions whether Jack Grealish will sign a permanent deal at Everton after his foot injury, but there is no doubt that the Fulham man would be an excellent alternative.

The ex-Liverpool attacking midfielder has been superb this season, scoring nine goals and assisting five in all competitions.

That sort of output would certainly boost the Toffees, but they would need to table a sizable offer to tempt him to L4.

Former Everton scout Bryan King has suggested that a deal could cost upwards of £30million for Wilson, even if he joins on a free transfer this summer.

Speaking exclusively to Goodison News, King said: “He’s going to cost a lot of money.

“Some of the goals he’s scored have been spectacular, and he’s a special player. In any other year, Fulham would want anywhere between £35m and £50m for him.

“Fulham have made him a new offer, so it’s going to be difficult for him to just walk out.

“He’ll cost money in some way, and I think there will be plenty of competition to sign him.

“Even on a free, the whole deal will cost £30m with a signing on fee and wages eccetera. He’ll be on a wage of at least £12m a year.“

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Wilson could replace Jack Grealish at Everton

Should the Toffees complete a deal for the Fulham star in that sort of wage bracket, which works out at £230,000-a-week, it is unlikely that Grealish would follow him to Merseyside.

Moyes’ men aren’t famed for splashing out on massive wages, but when a free transfer comes calling, the wages are always bloated.

With a transfer fee missing, Everton can afford to bring in the Welshman on a bigger weekly fee, but that may lock off a move for Grealish.

That will raise questions over who the Blues would prefer to bring in, but it will certainly be an interesting dilemma moving into the summer window.

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