Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough are reported to be among the numerous Championship clubs vying for Everton striker Ellis Simms’s signature this summer.

As previously reported, the 22-year-old is a player the Blues are keen to bring to Portman Road as Kieran McKenna looks to strengthen his strike force ahead of Town’s return to the Championship.

But a number of other Championship clubs are also understood to be interested with Simms’s former loan club Sunderland, Bristol City and Stoke City previously having been linked.

According to the Liverpool Echo, the Black Cats, managed by former Town skipper Tony Mowbray, have held talks regarding the 6ft 3in tall frontman but fear being out-gunned by other clubs in the running, while Blackburn are among the other contenders.

Elsewhere, TeamTalk reports that Middlesbrough, whose boss is McKenna’s friend and former Manchester United colleague Michael Carrick, are another of the interested parties.

Simms, who has a year left on his deal at Goodison Park, joined Everton at 16 having spent time with Blackburn and Manchester City as a schoolboy.

The striker was loaned to Blackpool 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 McKenna’s summer wishlist with loanee George Hirst having returned to his parent club Leicester at the end of the season.

Elsewhere, former Town academy striker Charlie Brown, 23, has joined Morecambe on a one-year deal having left Cheltenham at the end of last season.

Brown left the Blues’ youth set-up aged 16 as he was about to start his scholarship at Playford Road to join Chelsea.

Photo: Action Images

Europablue added 10:52 - Jun 24 It's a difficult choice for him and we're not obviously the best option for him. He's already played for Sunderland and Middlesborough are further along than us, but with a manager who is also destined for the Premier League.
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ArnieM added 11:38 - Jun 24 Fingers crossed then. We can only present our case to him. Then it's over to him.
4

gosblue added 11:48 - Jun 24 Smoke and mirrors. While all this is going on with simms, we will be sneaking someone else through the back door unnoticed. As for the other no.9, there's been no mention of Hirst. One thing we've learned about Gamechanger, it's what isn't being talked about that comes through. I do love a surprise.
21

MickMillsTash added 12:03 - Jun 24 He starts for us and he may not start for Middlesboro Middleboro and Blackburn are not far from Oldham. Lets face it - it will Probably come down to Money.
3

ArnieM added 12:06 - Jun 24 But that's not what Town look for in their players is it. If it's about money Town won't even be in for him.
8

blues1 added 12:35 - Jun 24 Arniem. Get ur point, but lets say he fills all the other criteria we want from a player, but, for the sake of argument, Middlesborough offer him more money? Then it may end up being about the .money.
1

TimmyH added 12:43 - Jun 24 Is he really any kop? seem to score a few goals when he went out on loan for Hearts and Sunderland in 2022 so maybe better at a lower level than the Premiership (though he hasn't played many games).
0

Nomore4 added 12:44 - Jun 24 He's a pro footballer contracted to a pro club…..he will end up at the highest payer. Everton will accept the highest fee….The player will accept the highest paying contract.
1

Nomore4 added 13:05 - Jun 24 He's 23 on a Premier league contract. He has already played and scored at the highest level. He won't come cheap that's a certainty.
4

Marinersnose added 13:28 - Jun 24 Not sure that this isn't media hype. Everton fans don't rate him, poor touch etc etc. Ashton has said that we are very active in the transfer market and when a deal is done the fans will be updated. Sims is young and KMK hasn't been bad with his recruiting so far. I'm very sure we will see many coming and going in the next month. Exciting times
6

Naylorsrightboot added 13:42 - Jun 24 I'm not fussed by this guy. Seems a lot of hype around him. Probably being biged up by his agent. Everton fans don't seem to rate him. He hasn't played that much football really at 23. I don't get why some of our fan base get so obsessed over players most of them have never really seen play or probably heard of until they get linked. Then start furiously googling them making out they know everything about them. Happens every time we get linked to anyone.

4

Bluedocker added 13:57 - Jun 24 Marinersnose & naylorsrightboot Living in Liverpool the Everton fans do rate him he's just not suited to dyches style of football and the same as Broadhead....
4

Europablue added 14:09 - Jun 24 Nomore4, Some players have the sense to consider their careers rather than just going for the highest bidder, otherwise they'd probably be off to the middle east.
2

oldelsworthyfan added 14:46 - Jun 24 I'd rather have Hirst. With us he got better and better. But if Leicester won't let him go......?
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marinermyhero added 14:48 - Jun 24 Nomore4 Broadhead was a premier player from the same club we still brought him
2

Davidwb20 added 14:56 - Jun 24 Agree with @Oldelsworthyfan - I would rather sign George Hirst. Over to Leicester!
3

BurleysGloryDays added 15:06 - Jun 24 Put in a little word Broady!
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troyparrotsleftear added 15:15 - Jun 24 Ashton. Time to step up and prove yourself as a big league player, not messing about in league 1
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Bazza8564 added 15:18 - Jun 24 Let's face it our season finished ages ago, a good 4 weeks before the PL and cup final. PL club players will still be on holiday, no one is signing for anybody presently, Everton are having a boardroom change and the papers have 3/4 of bu*g*er all to write about. I'd heard from Everton source this was advanced but as people above have said, we hear all this every window and suddenly Mark Ashton turns up having signed a player no one had known about in advance. Getting bored with it all now

0

Lord_Mac added 15:24 - Jun 24 I would imagine we could outbid any of them should we want to, but then it does us no harm to get our rivals to engage in a bidding war to soak up their resources, while we are looking elsewhere! I think we look more for people that we can improve and add value to, and/or come with us on the journey, rather than people who have already got a reputation. Still, could be wrong...

1

brendenward35 added 15:55 - Jun 24 Ashton is no mug so let's see what he can get totally trust him and McKenna. Agents will be stirring up things to get best deal for their client. Do be surprised if we get league one player who McKenna can improve as he did that with Hirst as he struggled when he arrived.
2

Nomore4 added 16:25 - Jun 24 Yes marinermyhero. But Simms has made double figure top flight appearances. Scored in the top flight, and already has a good goals to appearances record in the Championship with 2 clubs and 1 in the Scottish premiership. A level above Broadhead and Hirst.
2

Bluedocker added 18:29 - Jun 24 Nomore4 exactly right as much as I like Hirst he's only cut it in div1 simms has championship and prem experience personally I think he's a better player that would fit in our style of play. But I'll only believe it when he's standing there on Monday holding up a town shirt.
2

algarvefan added 18:33 - Jun 24 I'll keep saying it, I'm more than happy to go with the squad we have got, the one that gave Championship Burley a run for their money, there will be one or two through the door Ashton has already told us that, but the later season in form Town were a match for anyone. I look forward to the Christmas window, I think that will be crucial to our season. COYB
1

bobble added 06:06 - Jun 25 Middleboro and Blackburn or Ipswich, Suffolk......its a no brainer what to choose if you had to work and live in any of the 3.....suffolk wins by a country mile...
1

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