The price tag for Everton striker Ellis Simms has now been revealed as the 22-year-old attracts attention from three Championship clubs.
Everton will seek a transfer fee between £7m and £10m for the academy graduate, who has one year left on his current contract with the club.
Indeed, as per reports from The Times journalist Paul Joyce, Simms is a wanted man, with Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Swansea City all chasing his signature.
Coventry will certainly have money to spend and will be looking to replace the Lisbon-bound Viktor Gyokeres who looks set to join Sporting CP in an £18.5m deal.
Ellis Simms move from Everton beneficial to both player and club
Simms has flourished at every youth level he has played at and has had successful loan spells at Hearts, Blackpool and Sunderland, from where he was recalled in January, six months ahead of schedule.
With Everton fighting for Premier League survival, Simms returned to Merseyside to aid the Toffees in escaping relegation, though found playing time limited.
The 22-year-old scored just one goal in 11 games, though it was an incredibly important equaliser at Stamford Bridge in March’s 2-2 draw.
The Liverpool Echo recently reported that Sunderland may return for Simms’ signature, though fear being priced out of a permanent move.
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna recently refused to be drawn on speculation linking Simms with a move to Portman Road in an interview with the East Anglian Daily Times.
McKenna said: “It’s not our place to speak about any players that aren’t ours. There’s lots of speculation at this time of year – a lot of it incorrect. We certainly won’t comment until anything is further down the line.”
Wherever Ellis Simms ends up this summer, if Everton can secure between £7m and £10m for the young forward, it will not be a bad bit of business.