Young defender linked to Everton
While we wait to see the deal for Andre Gomes finalised and announced, speculation indicates Everton could move for a young English defender; Bristol City’s Adam Webster.
This story, which appears in The Sun newspaper claims that Everton have now joined in a race with Newcastle United and newly-promoted Aston Villa to sign the player.
The 24-year-old has played regularly for Bristol City after they signed him from Ipswich Town for £3.5 million.
Webster had an excellent season later term with the Championship side. He is a player who excels in the air and looks to be a very strong, steady and consistent all-round defender.
In fact he has some similar qualities as a defender to current Blues centre-back Michael Keane and he would also seem to be a good possible replacement for Phil Jagielka who has just left the club.
In addition there is still a great deal of uncertainty about whether Everton will be able to sign Kurt Zouma on a permanent deal, so a move for a player like Webster might make sense in that context.
A talented young central defender who would not cost a fortune and could be eased into the team over the course of the next season or two would make a decent investment.
In another interesting development that might have implications for Everton, Dutch giants Ajax have it seems just announced the signing of Quincy Promes.
The Netherlands international forward has today joined the Amsterdam club from Sevilla in a 15 million euro deal.
This move could be important because it might of course pave the way for Ajax’s Brazil forward David Neres to leave the club, with Goodison Park a possible destination for him.
The Blues have been strongly linked with a move for him and there has even been rumours that Toffees star Richarlison has been working on his international team mate trying to persuade him to come to Merseyside.
But Neres has other suitors too with PSG also apparently interested in his signature as well.
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I said before that I don’t think Neres is necessarily the best choice as a forward addition. He seems quite similar to existing players like Theo Walcott and Ademola Lookman. He’s a pacey skill full player who can play wide or centrally but doesn’t seem to be a natural central striker.
But maybe he will replace one or both of them as neither Walcott or Lookman would seem to have a long-term future at Everton.
Perhaps in the end the Blues will end up with a more flexible, three pronged attack with Neres and Richarlison might still eventually operate as a central forward in such a system.