Everton face competition from West Ham United to sign €8m rated free agent
Everton’s poor financial condition will restrain them from spending freely in the transfer market. EFC will have to either target free agents or sell one of their prized assets to fund their summer business. Ainsley Maitland-Niles is a free agent signing that Everton are possibly targeting this summer.
The Toffees are going through one of their worst financial crisis as the club has recorded losses for third consecutive year. Farhad Moshiri’s endless pockets seem to be drying up finally as EFC are no longer splashing crazy money on transfers. Everton now need to make shrewd signings and control their spending on transfers in every transfer window or they run the risk of violating the Profit and Sustainability rules.
Perhaps, the option of selling one of their best players for big amount of cash and then using it to fund the rebuild does sound an option that Everton will be willing to take. However, selling someone like Amadou Onana does present its own challenges. Until such a sale takes place, EFC must consider some of the free agents that are available on the market.
Everton face competition from West Ham United for Ainsley Maitland-Niles
The Merseysiders have been linked to free agent strikers Moussa Dembele and Alfredo Morelos. Everton have also been linked with Arsenal’s Maitland-Niles, who is set to become a free agent in two days. The utility man spent the last season on loan at Southampton, making 22 Premier League appearances for the Saints.
Maitland-Niles has spent the last 18 months on loan, spending the second half of the 2021-22 season on loan at AS Roma and then heading to Southampton last summer. The Englishman’s contract expires at the end of this month and there have been no indications of him being offered a new deal by the Gunners.
The 25 year old has been linked with a free transfer to Everton but it seems they will face competition from English and foreign clubs. According to Football Transfers, EFC are set to face competition from West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Sheffield United for Maitland-Niles. A trio of Turkish clubs, Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Trabzonspor are also interested in Maitland-Niles.
Signing Maitland-Niles will help the Toffees sort out depth issues in midfield as well as at right back. Maitland-Niles can play in central midfield and also slot into the right back role, offering versatility to Sean Dyche. Considering he’s available on a free transfer, there will be clubs pouncing on him and Everton need to be quick to convince the 25 year old or they run the risk of missing out on a fantastic utility player.
Next. Everton receive blow in €7m midfielder chase as player rules out Premier League transfer. dark
Will EFC sign Ainsley Maitland-Niles?