Everton manager Martinez going to Town for Bony

With Romelu Lukaku’s future uncertain, the Toffees are taking contingency measures to replace him and reports in Wales suggest a bid is being lined up for record Swansea signing Wilfried Bony.

The Ivorian striker has scored 25 goals in all competitions in his debut season for the Swans, and will no doubt attract the interest of a host of clubs, if manager Garry Monk fails to convince him to stay. It is thought any fee would be well in excess of the £12m the club paid Vitesse Arnhem last summer.

Manager Roberto Martinez would ideally like to keep Lukaku who netted 16 times in 33 appearances, and linked well with Steven Naismith and Belgian teammate Kevin Mirallas towards the end of the campaign. It is unclear however, whether Jose Mourinho and the Chelsea hierarchy would allow him to leave for another season on loan, after his current crop of forwards failed to flourish last term.

Also linked to Goodison Park is Tottenham Hotspur winger Andros Townsend. Players at Spurs will be anxious as to what is going to happen at the club over the coming months, who are currently without a manager.

Townsend, who Martinez tried to sign on loan when he first arrived on Merseyside, is waiting to have surgery on an ankle injury that has ruled him out of the World Cup. Predominantly a right winger, he can use both feet; a quality that Martinez values highly in his players. Although his goal record of two in all competitions this campaign doesn’t reflect his potential and ability, he has been ravaged by injury and also competes with Aaron Lennon for a starting berth. The only question mark hanging over this potential move could be the future of current Barcelona loanee Gerard Deulofeu. If Barcelona bring in a new manager; highly speculated to be club legend Luis Enrique, the young Spaniard may feature in the Catalan club’s plans.

There could well be a lot of transfer activity at Goodison Park as the summer draws nearer, and Martinez has proved himself as a competent talent spotter so far.