Cenk Tosun not concerned by Everton price tag

New Everton striker Cenk Tosun believes he is well-suited to English football and does not regard his price tag as something putting major pressure on him.

The Toffees announced the signing of the Turkey international from Besiktas on January 5, with the fee reported to be £27million.

He made his debut last weekend, playing for around an hour as Everton lost 4-0 at Wembley to Tottenham, and is set for his home bow on Saturday when West Brom visit Goodison Park.

Speaking at a press conference at Everton’s training ground on Wednesday, the 26-year-old said: “The Premier League is very fast football, very strong and high-tempo, and I’m a very strong player.

“For my debut, I would have liked it to be a better one. But, hopefully, I can’t wait to meet our supporters this week and play in front of them. I can assure you we will do a lot better.

“My character as a player, I think it is very suitable to this kind of football.

“I’m hoping to be able to adapt very quickly, with the help of my team-mates.”

Regarding the fee paid for him, Tosun said: “It doesn’t put a lot of pressure on me to be honest, it’s actually a great honour.

“I’d like to become a good role model for all the other players in Turkey. There are some great players, but it’s difficult for them to do that breakthrough and I would like to open the door for them.”

Everton have brought Tosun in having frequently struggled in front of goal this season following the sale last summer of Romelu Lukaku.

Tosun has scored 41 goals in 96 Turkish Super Lig games since the start of 2014-15, four in six Champions League matches this term, and has an international record of eight goals in 25 caps.

He said on Wednesday that another English club had been interested in him, without naming them, before stressing: “Everton were the first team who seriously wanted me, and I seriously wanted to come here.”

When asked what the attraction was with Everton, he said: “It is a massive club, a historical club.

“(Everton manager) Sam Allardyce played a big role in this as well. The club wanted me a lot and I felt to play in England, it was one of my biggest dreams. And our supporters are great.

“I spent three-and-a-half great years at Besiktas but everybody needs new targets, new missions in life, and it was my mission to play in the Premier League.

“The main aim is to take the team to better places, and score as many goals as I can.

“This year it looks a bit difficult, but we would like to win cups and I would like to be part of that.

“This year we are aiming to be in the top half of the table – maybe seventh or eighth would be a good place for us.”

Everton, out of both domestic cup competitions and the Europa League, are currently ninth in the Premier League.