Everton are hoping to sign Jesper Lindstrom and Kalvin Phillips as Sean Dyche looks to bolster his squad for the club’s historic final season at Goodison Park. Everton were rocked by Friday’s announcement that the Friedkin Group had pulled out of takeover negotiations after entering a period of exclusivity to obtain majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri’s 94.1% stake but despite speculation it could mark a change in their approach to the transfer market, club sources have insisted the Blues remain in a secure position this summer.
Everton have informed Manchester United they have no intention of selling Jarrad Branthwaite this summer, regardless of the Friedkin takeover collapse and are still actively planning on having their most-valuable asset with them next season unless a mega offer comes in, while for their part, Old Trafford chiefs retain an interest but only if the asking prices drops after having two bids of £35million plus add ons and then £45million plus add ons rejected.
Speaking exclusively to the ECHO following Friday’s 3-3 friendly draw at Sligo Rovers, Dyche said: “We are working very hard with the situation and what the club is, I have discussed that since I have been here and we are still doing that and trying to cut our cloth accordingly and keep hold of the good players that we want to keep hold of and add players that we feel can add something to what the team is.”
In Italy, Calciomercato report that Napoli have reached an agreement with Everton over a loan fee for Lindstrom with an option to buy next summer for €25million (approximately £21million). The 24-year-old Danish international winger, who joined the Serie A side for €30million from Eintracht Frankfurt less than a year ago but failed to score for them in 29 matches in all competitions last season, found the net for Napoli on Saturday in their 3-0 friendly win over Mantova 1911, a team newly-promoted to Serie B, in the Alpine town of Dimaro as he opened proceedings with a coolly-struck low right-foot finish from the edge of the area just four minutes into the contest.
A winger remains a priority position for Everton who believed Hull City’s Jaden Philogene wanted to join them before he returned to Aston Villa. The ECHO understands that the Blues are hoping to seal a transfer for Lindstrom and also remain interested in Kalvin Phillips with the latter currently in the USA preparing for Manchester City’s four-match American tour which starts in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with a game against Scottish champions Celtic on Tuesday (kick-off 12:30am Wednesday, UK time).
Although Phillips could fill the void left by Amadou Onana, who is closing in on a £50million move to Aston Villa, Everton’s interest in the England international is long-standing as first reported by the ECHO on May 29. BBC Sport stated earlier this month that it seems impossible that the 28-year-old, who spent the second half of 2023/24 on loan at West Ham United, will remain at the Etihad Stadium for this campaign, but Dyche is an admirer of the former Leeds United man’s talents and believes he could help him revive his Premier League career with a potential loan to Goodison Park.
