Villa midfielder having medical with Everton while Blues youngster going other way

We broke the news the other day that Iroegbunam was a surprise transfer target of Everton and that a deal had apparently been agreed with Villa for the 20-year-old.

Now, from the same original source of that story comes claims that Iroegbunam is actually on Merseyside today having a medical before completing his move from the Midlands club.

At the same time as all this is going on, it appears that the Villans are themselves in talks with the Toffees concerning one of their own youngsters, Lewis Dobbin, about a switch to Villa Park.

So, after a quiet few weeks with just the usual improbable transfer rumours swirling around, something concrete seems to be happening suddenly.

Of course as always, there is the usual caveat that until we hear official confirmation from the club, we cannot be certain of anything.

Still, the Iroegbunam story seems to be pretty solidly based and it would be a surprise if that turned out to be totally untrue.

As for the Dobbin news, that also comes as an unexpected development given that the winger barely made any impression with the Blues last season.

True, he had little playing time to do so and like other younger players in the first-team squad doesn't seem to have the confidence of Sean Dyche.

The 21-year-old academy product made only twelve appearances in total in the Premier League, with eleven of them coming off the bench, and scored one goal against Chelsea at Goodison Park.

That issue of whether young players get enough game-time under Dyche is one that could also presumably impact Iroegbunam too.

Individuals such as Dobbin, Nathan Patterson and Youssef Chermiti had very little opportunity last season, although it must be added Patterson's injury problems did not help his cause while Chermiti is still only a teenager and a very raw talent.

Having said that, there was a time at the beginning of the year when the Toffees were mired in a terrible winless run that saw them unable to register three points for thirteen consecutive matches.

Not coincidentally at the same time, the Blues strikers were in a fearful slump with Dominic Calvert-Lewin failing to score for almost five months and Beto offering no evidence he could step in and take up the slack.

So, there was surely a case for giving Dobbin and Chermiti more playing time, if for no other reason than there wasn't any alternative.

It is possible that the deal for Iroegbunam may end up being a part-cash, part-player deal with Dobbin going the other way, given that both Everton and Villa are wary of spending much and need to keep their finances within PSR restrictions.

On that now rather tiresome issue comes further opinion that the Blues will have to sell possibly two of their star players as the club will almost certainly breach PSR again next season.

But, that is hardly really news and it has always been virtually certain the Toffees will sell at least one of Amadou Onana and possibly also Jarrad Branthwaite (although I sincerely hope that isn't the case).

With Iroegbunam's apparently imminent arrival, Onana leaving would seem to be very much on the cards and possibly very soon.