Arsenal still frontrunners for Onana as Everton eye Roma star Bove

According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal are still the leading club chasing Everton star Onana and a deal for the Belgian international is almost certain to be done very soon.

Meanwhile, the Toffees are closing in on their first signing of the summer with the club looking to seal a deal for Villa's young midfield ball-winner Iroegbunam.

The Liverpool Echo claim the 20-year-old matches up well in terms of key performance stats with other established Premier League defensive midfielders and could represent a good long-term option to replace Onana.

As yet nothing concrete has happened with either of these transfers so we have to wait and see when or whether they materalise.

In another story today the same media outlet that first broke the news about the Iroegbunam deal, say that Everton are also interested in Roma midfielder Edoardo Bove.

Supposedly, Bove is being tracked by the Blues with the player apparently keen on a chance to play in England and the Premier League.

Leeds United were also allegedly keeping tabs on him. But as they cannot offer top flight football after failing to gain promotion and are facing serious financial problems, it is very unlikely they can do a deal for the 22-year-old.

Bove is a player who seems to be in a very similar mold to Iroegbunam, young and primarily a defensive ball-winning type of midfielder.

Whether there is anything in this report or if it is entirely speculative is hard to say, although with a deal for the Villa man seemingly close it would seem to be.

However, there is one intriguing aspect to this and that is the potential takeover of Everton by Dan Friedkin.

As we all know, the US billionaire businessman is the leading candidate to buy out Farhad Moshiri and become the new owner of the Toffees.

According to some stories he is very close to completing a deal, while others seem to indicate that this is still some way off the mark.

Of course Friedkin owns Roma, and so potentially that could lead to the two clubs being able to do deals for players much easier and more swiftly, if he takes control of Everton in the end.