Everton are set to step up their interest in Leeds forward Wilfried Gnonto as they wrap up a loan deal for Denmark winger Jesper Lindstrom.
In a move that insiders say illustrates the club’s intention to persevere with their original transfer blueprint despite the collapse of the Friedkin Group takeover last week, Everton have secured a breakthrough in talks with Lindstrom’s parent club Napoli.
Talks have “progressed well” and i understands a loan move with an option to buy should be completed before the end of the week, which will enable Everton to move onto other targets.
Gnonto remains one of their priorities and i has been told money is still available for strengthening after Aston Villa clinched a £50m deal for midfielder Amadou Onana earlier this week.
Italy international Gnonto is understood to be keen on the move but there is an acknowledgement that a deal may prove difficult to broker and – just as they did with ex-Hull City winger Jaden Philogene, who instead joined Villa – Everton will not overpay.
Indeed the club are operating in fairly tight financial parameters this summer – it was always sell-to-buy in this transfer window for the Toffees, who have generated transfer funds through the sale of Onana, Ben Godfrey and homegrown winger Lewis Dobbin – even if they remain “active” in the market.
As i reported last week the club’s blueprint is to be “dynamic and front foot” in the transfer market but with resources limited, there will have to be an element of risk-taking in their incoming business.
Lindstrom seems to encapsulate that: he is an undoubted talent who excelled for Eintracht Frankfurt and was part of Denmark’s squad for the 2022 World Cup. But after rejecting overtures from Premier League clubs to sign for Napoli a year ago, he has struggled to make an impact in Serie A, which has left him looking to restart his career at the age of 24.
Everton’s theory is that with more regular game time and playing in Sean Dyche’s rebooted system next year, Lindstrom will have a platform to excel and that a deal – initially a loan with the option to turn it into an £18.5m permanent move – will represent fine business.
The club are braced for further outgoings, although i understands that Manchester United have been informed that centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite remains off limits unless the Red Devils match their £80m asking price.
Reports in the wake of the Friedkin Group takeover collapsing suggested that United would return to the table with another bid but Everton have reaffirmed that they have no interest in selling Branthwaite.
The transfer strategy this summer had “priced in” the takeover not happening until September at the earliest, so despite the long-term uncertainty at Goodison Park, no fire sale or further tightening of their belts are required.
It is potentially a different story with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, although sources have not written off the chance of him signing a new contract at Goodison Park. That feels unlikely even if tentative interest from AC Milan and Chelsea earlier in the transfer window has not been followed up.
There has been no contact from any club since Newcastle United held talks with Calvert-Lewin in June which i understands broke down over his wage demands.
The Magpies are understood to retain some interest in Calvert-Lewin, but Newcastle have hit reset on their transfer plans since the appointment of Paul Mitchell as director of football.
Either way Everton are hopeful of a resolution before the end of the transfer window. With Calvert-Lewin entering the final year of his contract, Everton do not want to risk letting a key asset leave for nothing.
In another twist, i understands that Chelsea’s Armando Broja was keen on a move to Everton if Calvert-Lewin left, though he now looks set to join Milan.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/CAcyvgh
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