The Lyon defender Jake O’Brien has arrived on Merseyside for a medical before a proposed £17m move to Everton. A deal for the towering centre-half would not, Everton insist, signal they are preparing to sell Jarrad Branthwaite to Manchester United.
O’Brien has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs after a successful first season in France, where he made 27 league appearances for Lyon. Everton agreed terms with Lyon over the weekend and the 23-year-old will start his medical on Monday, with a view to finalising a five-year contract.