By Mark Smith

26th Aug, 2022 | 7:10am

Everton are closing in on a deal to beat Leeds United to the transfer of Blackburn striker Ben Brereton-Diaz this week, according to 90min.

The online outlet has reported on its website that the Toffees are closing in on a deal worth more than £20million for the Chilean international, with an initial payment of £17.5million.

Premier League clubs were queuing up for his signature, with Leeds also joined by West Ham, Wolves, Bournemouth and Southampton watching closely.

Brereton-Diaz is now in the final year of his contract, and it looks as though he will get his move to the Premier League despite starting this season in the Championship.

Everton look to have moved quickly to get a deal over the line first with less than one week now remaining in this crazy summer window.

Sevilla and Nice were also said to hold an interest, with the South American one of the most courted players in this market with strikers clearly in high demand.

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Moving on.

Jesse Marsch has made it clear that nothing is close at Elland Road, meaning that no bids or any contact has likely been made in regard to Brereton-Diaz.

It is easy to link clubs with strikers in this current market with what they need, and a lot of it could be put down to agent talk as we enter this next final week.

Patrick Bamford is returning to full fitness again, and with Joe Gelhardt behind the on-fire Rodrigo this season, it would be no surprise to see no one come in.

Brereton-Diaz has been shining in the Championship, but if he was this seriously courted, surely a move will have happened by now, and there are no guarantees he will shine.

It looks as though he will now move to Goodison Park to link up with the struggling Everton and it could quickly go down hill with Frank Lampard at the helm.

Could a last-minute hijack come? Time will tell, all eyes are on this one.

In other Leeds United news, the Whites now want to sign this striker with a rival set to kickstart a major £30million+ transfer battle