Stop me if you've heard this one: Everton need a right back this summer. Probably two, if we're being honest.
Consequently, there have been some rumors surrounding potential incomings at the position, but as of now, nothing concrete appears to be in the offing.
Still, the need is clear, and has been for several seasons now, and it is starting to feel like the club recognizes it too, at long last. And the latest name to be thrown into the mix is a young Manchester City star on the rise who is looking for an opportunity now that Enzo Maresca has arrived.
Rico Lewis set to leave City
Rico Lewis is just 21 years old and has spent his entire life in the Manchester City academy, making his Premier League debut in 2022 at the tender age of 17. He was in and out of the City side during Pep Guardiola's tenure at the club, making 69 total appearances (43 starts) and logging a hair over 4000 minutes in parts of four seasons.
He's already been capped for England, debuting as the starting left back during the EURO qualifying run in 2023, before making four further appearances, three of them starts, during the UEFA Nations League the following year.
Pep played the kid all over the pitch, giving him time and starts all along the back line and even in central midfield. The former City manager even trusted the youngster at the highest level, granting him 16 starts in the Champions League.
And now reports are coming out that Maresca sees Lewis as a surplus to requirement at City, and that the club would allow him to leave this summer at the right price.
According to Graeme Bailey at TEAMTalk, Everton, along with Nottingham Forest, are among the clubs interested in bringing Lewis in. Bailey continues to note that "several other Premier League sides have also discussed Lewis internally, with his versatility and homegrown status making him an attractive proposition."
Will Everton make the move?
There's no real sense of what it might cost to bring Lewis to Merseyside, although Transfermarkt has his value at around €28 million. Given his age and versatility, and the prices being bandied about for other right backs on the market, this doesn't seem outrageous.
Lewis is young, yes, but he has gobs of Premier League experience, something David Moyes is known to value in his players, so that shouldn't be an issue.
From the players perspective, while he'd be leaving a good situation in terms of winning trophies, the opportunity to play every week could be an attractive one, and the hope is that it would be enough to convince him to come.
If it works, then Everton either have a player who can hold down the position for years to come, or an opportunity to make a major profit on him in after a few seasons. Either way, if the chance is there, it feels like a strong move to make.
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