Everton are set to spend this summer. Recent reports have outlined The Friedkin Group’s plans to work with David Moyes and strengthen the flanks, both from defensive and more forward-focused vantages.
With an overload of first-teamers out of contract this summer, there’s certainly a lot for incoming Director of Football Angus Kinnear to sort out, but it’s exciting to note that there’s been a shift in mentality in the short time since Moyes returned to the dugout.
All of a Toffees persuasion want flashy new forwards to enter the fold, but a sprinkling of pragmatism must be woven into the strategy to create a balanced team of high quality.
Everton are lining up one such player in a shrewd move.
Everton make first move to sign Premier League ace
According to Caught Offside, Everton have made their first move in an effort to sign Manchester United centre-back Victor Lindelof, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
The report claims that they are one of a number of clubs to have made contact with the player about a possible move to Merseyside this summer.
Everton will hope that their new project and the geographical closeness to Old Trafford may hold sway in negotiations, but with Everton, Fulham, West Ham United, and Wolverhampton Wanderers also keen, time is of the essence.
The Merseysiders have received a boost in their bid for the 30-year-old after he made known his desire to remain in England, despite interest from Juventus, Inter Milan, and former club Benfica.
What Victor Lindelof would bring to Everton
When Moyes returned to Goodison Park in January after 12 years away, Sean Dyche was resigned to his fate, in both senses of the word.
Matches
19
14
Goals
15
19
Goals against
25
15
Clean sheets
7
3
Points
17
21
The former Burnley manager felt he had taken Everton as far as he could, and his vision did not align with TFG’s vision. However, Moyes will no doubt thank his predecessor for having left such firm defensive foundations – foundations from which incomings such as Lindelof could use to turn out as bona fide successes.
Lindelof has been a feature in the Premier League for some time, signing for United back in 2017 in an initial £31m move, departing from Benfica.
He’s ebbed and he’s flowed, truth be told, making 277 appearances and winning the Europa League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup. However, the Sweden international has been locked in a sort of purgatory in recent years, peripheral in the Premier League.
There’s a solid, ball-efficient player in there, though, and Moyes may well be the perfect man to unlock the chained hasp. Given Lindelof’s looming free agency, his vast experience in English football, the veteran may well prove to be Moyes’ own version of James Tarkowski.
Tarkowski, Everton’s acting captain with Seamus Coleman on the margins, joined from relegated Burnley in 2022 at the end of his contract, proving to be a smart piece of business indeed.
Though he was 29 at the time, Tarkowski brought a wealth of practice in the Premier League to Merseyside, and he has started every single league match since his arrival (albeit that will soon change after he was forced off against Manchester City last weekend with a hamstring injury).
Now 32, the English centre-half has been a wonderful mentor for Jarrad Branthwaite, perfectly upholding Dyche and now Moyes’ fundamental defensive values.
Lindelof could add another string to Everton’s defensive bow, ranking among the top 14% of defenders across Europe for pass completion, as per FBref, and once being labelled Man United’s “best player” by former boss Jose Mourinho.
All told, if Kinnear and co can perhaps reduce down Lindelof’s present £120k-per-week earnings, this might just prove to be an astute piece of business from an Everton side set to lose Michael Keane at the end of his deal.
Bramley Moore beckons, signalling more than just a change of scenery. It’s a new era for Moyes’ Everton, but the manager might just hit gold by repeating a trick and signing a player in a similar vein to Tarkowski before turning toward those flashier forward players to really get the new ground rocking.
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