Everton striker Ellis Simms is on the Blues’ list of potential summer recruits.

The Sun is reporting that Town have made a £3.5 million offer for the 22-year-old frontman but, while we understand Simms is among those on the Blues’ list as they look to add to their striking options over the summer, that overstates the position and the quoted fee is well in excess of the figure the former Sunderland loanee is likely to fetch.

Simms, who is also believed to be interesting other clubs, joined the Toffeemen at 16 having spent time with Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City as a schoolboy.

The 6ft 3in tall frontman joined Blackpool on loan in January 2021, then a year later moved to Hearts in Scotland for the second half of the following season.

The Oldham-born striker signed for Sunderland on loan last season and made 14 starts and three sub appearances, scoring seven times, before being recalled at the turn of the year.

For his parent club, Simms has made three starts and nine sub appearances - all in the Premier League - scoring once, in March’s 2-2 draw at Chelsea.

A new number nine - or perhaps two - is likely to be well up manager Kieran McKenna’s summer wishlist with loanee George Hirst having returned to his parent club Leicester at the end of the season.

Town are also again linked with a loan move for Crystal Palace wideman Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who was previously interesting the Blues ahead of the January window, however, we understand no move is imminent.

Palace are believed to want to keep hold of the 20-year-old, who spent last season with Charlton, for pre-season before allowing him to go out elsewhere.

Southwark-born Rak-Sakyi began his youth career with Chelsea before moving on to the Eagles.

Rak-Sakyi, who is contracted to Palace until 2025, has made 44 starts and five substitute appearances for the Addicks, scoring 15 times, including the South Londoners’ first in the 4-4 draw with Town in October.

The summer transfer window officially opened today and runs until 11pm on Friday 1st September.

Photo: Action Images

Dilithium85 added 13:17 - Jun 14 Here we go! My fix of rumours
7

Help added 13:28 - Jun 14 And so the rumour mill starts to turn.
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BlueArrow added 13:29 - Jun 14 Best Rumours was Fleetwood Mac
12

ArnieM added 13:32 - Jun 14 So, does this mean we've moved on from Hirst?
1

Karlosfandangal added 13:35 - Jun 14 Agree BlueArrow. Lots of rumours and then Town will sign a player not even mentioned
9

bluesteal74 added 13:37 - Jun 14 Wouldn't mind either one or both, kinda love this time a year now we are not shopping in pound land.
5

Help added 13:37 - Jun 14 Everton seem to be our club of choice for players at the moment
0

blues1 added 13:39 - Jun 14 Come on guys. Its in "the sun". To be taken with a pinch of salt. Certainly dont see us paying that kind of money on 1 player.
3

Europablue added 13:41 - Jun 14 Help It makes you wonder why Everton could not find space in their first team for all of their promising youngsters considering how poorly the first team performed last season.
3

SaigonTractor added 13:43 - Jun 14 I don't know if this means we've completely given up on Hirst, but I'm glad we aren't messing around. Much as I'd love Hirst back I'd rather get a striker sorted now, than be messed around by Leicester all summer.
5

JewellintheTown added 13:45 - Jun 14 Years Team Apps (Gls) 2020— Everton 12 (1) 2021 → Blackpool (loan) 21 (8) 2022 → Heart of Midlothian (loan) 17 (5) 2022 → Sunderland (loan) 17 (7)
0

LeeCarl84 added 13:48 - Jun 14 Yes please!
2

itfckenty added 13:54 - Jun 14 While I think Hurst was great for us, something in the back of my mind is saying I don't think he will quite cut it for us in the champ. Plus with Leicester going down, they are going to rebuild and may well want to utilise him. We do need someone up top that will regularly score, the championship is a difficult league.
2

algarvefan added 13:59 - Jun 14 Hell YES!!!!!
1

Plums added 14:00 - Jun 14 Toffeemen?
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oldelsworthyfan added 14:14 - Jun 14 I like Hirst, but he's not the only option. Either Leicester can't make their minds up, or a figure can't be agreed or he's not for sale. Ashton will know how much McKenna might want Hirst, or not. Players loaned out several times don't often stay and 'make it' with the club they're contracted to. I think Chaplin would like Hirst to be here.
5

Fat_Boy_Tim added 14:16 - Jun 14 The looks about 15 years older in the first picture! I think Toffeemen is acceptable as about a 6th repetition (bearing in mind he can't use ‘Blues') but second mention is a bit early. You've got ‘Liverpool outfit', ‘Merseysiders' ‘Sean Dyche's men' et al to get in first!
2

tractorboybig added 14:34 - Jun 14 load of bull uks the second line says reports in the sun
0

EssexBloo added 14:35 - Jun 14 A premier league player who has just had a good loan spell at a Championship club, seems to fit our MO
1

Bazza8564 added 14:36 - Jun 14 Wake me when he's stood with Ashton wearing blue, everything else is pointless before that
2

Naylorsrightboot added 14:37 - Jun 14 I just hope we don't spend all summer chasing one target,like last year with Hirst, then panic buy someone like we did last year at the last minute. If that guy at Palace isn't going anywhere until after pre season, can we wait whilst other players are snapped up and then he doesn't come here anyway ? We need to get players signed and ready. If someone or some club is kicking their heals then move on and quickly.

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DocMartyn added 14:52 - Jun 14 Hirst won't be going anywhere until they have a new manager in place...
4

Len_Brennan added 14:53 - Jun 14 I have only seen clips of him on tv & youtube tbf, but I certainly wouldn't chose him over Hirst even if he was £1m cheaper. He is big & strong, and knows where the goal is alright, but he doesn't have the crisp finish, the awareness, clever flicks & movement of Hirst from what I can make out. Hirst is not only a beast (as we saw v Barnsley) of a center forward with height & power, he has a good first touch, is pacy, hard working and has a great understanding with intelligent players around him. All of this helped to improve the potency of the entire front 4 over the last few months of the season; opposing defences were ripped & torn to shreds trying to cope with them all. That had a huge impact on our great run, especially in the games against our main rivals. Of course it is out of our hands to a significant extent, but if we are not to get Hirst back from Leicester, I do think we need to try & replace him with someone who offers a similar skills, otherwise we will have to change how we play somewhat which could impact on Broadhead, Chaplin & Burns (Rak Sakyi!)'s contribution. I'm not sure that Simms would be much of a step up from Freddie, who really proved himself as an effective goalscorer, even if he is only playing the last 20 - 30 minutes.

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JimJamITFC added 15:09 - Jun 14 As someone with Ev fans in the family, I highly doubt this will happen. Great player who at this level would crush for us, depends if Ev get two new strikers in
0

Help added 15:25 - Jun 14 Maybe it's a hurry up by ITFC for Leicester. Force their hand?
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