Everton are weighing up their options ahead of the January transfer window with two positions being focused on, a winger and a midfielder. Despite signing Vitaliy Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson, the Merseyside club are still in desperate need of additions in a number of areas of the pitch as injuries haunt Rafa Benitez’ first season at the helm.
Despite being promised regular game time at Old Trafford, having impressed on loan at West Ham United during the second half of the 2020-21 season, Jesse Lingard hasn’t been given that kind of opportunity at Manchester United this season thanks to some stiff competition for places with the likes of Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo arriving in Manchester this summer.
As a result, contract talks with Lingard have now broken down at Manchester United and he will be looking to leave the club on a free transfer in the summer so it came as no surprise when the Toffees were linked with a move for the former England international.
It’s no secret that Everton are in danger of breaching financial fair play rules after years of big spending, with relatively small amounts being recouped in return. Hence the Royal Blues were savvier with their money over the course of the summer. Benitez and the rest of the club’s hierarchy worked very hard to secure new arrivals under tight budget restraints with five players eventually arriving through the doors for a measly sum of £1.7 million. Two of those signings in particular have been a huge success – with Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray thriving at the Goodison Park.
Does Everton really need Jesse Lingard?
Lingard is a player with Premier League experience, has proven he can be effective in an ambitious side under the right manager and helps the Royal Blues bolster their attack. The latest rumours claim that the 28-year-old would prefer to stay in the northwest and so a January move to Goodison Park would apparently suit him. The Toffees are set to explore the possibility of a loan-to-buy deal to maximize their limited transfer funds as this signing seems like a no-brainer.
West Ham are also keen on bringing the playmaker back to east London after his loan spell last term but the Hammers have already spent £62 million on the likes of Kurt Zouma, Nikola Vlasic, and Alex Kral. (via Transfermarkt)
The Merseyside outfit should be going all out to sign Lingard this transfer window as he is the type of signing that would kill two birds with one stone for the Toffees as they would significantly improve their own attack as well as weaken West Ham.
Will Everton sign Jesse Lingard in January?