With Everton closing in on the signing of Ashley Young, attention is already turning to who might come in next.
Everton appear to be operating under a restricted budget this summer - a problem given the extent of work that needs to be done ahead of the new season. In Yerry Mina, Conor Coady, Tom Davies, Asmir Begovic and Andros Townsend, some influential characters have left Finch Farm. The loss of the likes of Isaac Price and Ellis Simms has weakened the setup further.
Against that backdrop the expected arrival of Young, whose medical was due to take place on Tuesday, provides a significant boost for Sean Dyche. With the footballing world aware Everton must strengthen, particularly going forward, the club is being linked to players across Europe as speculation swirls and agendas are pushed.
Here, the ECHO takes a look at the state of play with several of the names that keep getting mentioned.
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Wilfried Gnonto
Wilfried Gnonto has been heavily linked with Everton this summer. The Blues are not the only club said to be interested as vultures circle on the prospects of a relegated side. Some reports in Italy have claimed a deal for a fee of around £20m is close to completion. There is no doubt Everton need attacking reinforcements and interest in Gnonto would fit into the ideology the club wants to adopt in the transfer market - that of sealing a young player with clear talent and the potential to develop in ability and value.
It is the type of deal that saw Amadou Onana join last summer. Everton and Leeds United do share a positive relationship behind the scenes and reports suggest further departures from Elland Road are likely. Yet Leeds are understood to still see him as their player - he is under contract for a further four years, considered to be on an affordable salary despite the club’s relegation and the ECHO understands he does not have a buy-out clause. Circumstances can change quickly but other clubs are also said to be circling and with Leeds - on the surface at least - resistant to a move, it would be a real statement of intent if this was something Everton could manage.
Everton have been linked with teammates of Gnonto, Jack Harrison, Rodrigo and Cyrensio Summerville. All three players have attracted significant interest though none have sealed a move yet. Rodrigo’s exit is increasingly being seen as inevitable and his track record and availability make a compelling case for Everton’s interest.
El Bilal Toure
El Bilal Toure is another promising young attacker who has been heavily linked with Everton. Numerous reports have claimed Everton have enquired for the Almeria forward, who scored seven goals in 21 La Liga games last season. Almeria’s general director Mohamed El Assy named Everton as a side that had made a bid for him last week. Perhaps significant to bear in mind is that his release clause is around £40m and if Everton could commit to such a deal the club would only be likely to reach an agreement of that magnitude through instalments.
Further important context is that Almeria are looking to sell players in order to fund a wider rebuild after narrowly avoiding relegation. El Assy is quoted as saying: “Regarding sales, I always say that the only way to grow is that, to sell players, … That is why we always have the doors open to sell to all players, without problems, but as long as they are well valued.”
Tom Heaton
Manchester United goalkeeper Tom Heaton is another name linked with Everton. The 37-year-old has worked with Dyche previously and the departure of Asmir Begovic has left the Blues without a clear deputy for Jordan Pickford. While Heaton could provide an obvious solution, any talks are unlikely to advance in the short-term.
The goalkeeping department at Old Trafford is currently in a mess following the departure of David de Gea and uncertainty over the future of Dean Henderson, so Eric ten Hag is not thought to be willing to sanction a move for Heaton at this stage in proceedings. Meanwhile, at Everton, Joao Virginia has had his contract extended and has been taken out to France with the first team squad as Dyche considers whether he could take on more responsibility in the upcoming season.
Arnaut Danjuma
Arnaut Danjuma came so close to joining Everton on loan from Villarreal in January before the dramatic U-turn that took him to Tottenham Hotspur instead. Everton’s need for a player like Danjuma remains desperate and the difficult memories of January are not thought to represent a barrier to talks this summer. Everton’s interest is understood to remain and the 26-year-old is open to a move to Merseyside, but amid interest from several clubs he is considering his options.
