It is common knowledge that another midfielder is next, and potentially last up on Everton’s list of transfer targets.
After all, this should come as no surprise, given the sacrifice the club were forced to make by selling Amadou Onana.
He was, and remains one of Europe’s hottest young properties, but it always felt like he and Sean Dyche were never bound to see eye to eye.
Thus, his exit was graciously sanctioned, and the club welcomed a huge fee.
But, it has left a big gap in the engine room that some might consider tough to replace.
However, for others, there is already a readymade replacement just waiting to be unleashed…
Everton remain interested in Kalvin Phillips
For those who subscribe to the former school of thought, desperate that Kevin Thelwell wade into the market one last time to snag a midfield maestro, they will be delighted to see the continued links suggesting that Everton want to sign Kalvin Phillips.
The Manchester City midfielder has had a tough time ever since trading his boyhood Leeds United for the Premier League champions, and whilst the club has only gone from strength to strength, his career has dwindled.
Once one of the top talents within English football, seemingly set to become a mainstay in Gareth Southgate’s squad, instead he has fallen down the international and club pecking order, even failing to make the grade on loan at West Ham United last year.
There is a remarkable player hiding within Phillips, but at 28 years old, and with four years still left on his deal, the only club that can possibly benefit from a potential loan move is City.
After all, they are unlikely to sell their £42m man in a hurry should he come and impress at Goodison Park, and should he fail, Phillips will have just occupied a spot in the midfield where Tim Iroegbunam could have been starring instead.
Tim Iroegbunam deserves to start for Everton
The 21-year-old, who actually joined before Onana’s exit, was initially the subject of intense media scrutiny given his ties to Everton’s supposed PSR loophole.
However, quickly becoming a starter throughout pre-season, the £9m invested already looks like a steal, with the suggestion by journalist Deji Faremi that he is a ‘talent‘ seemingly an understatement.
The media are raving over Iroegbunam, and rightly so, with his progressive impetus in the midfield combined with his unrelenting efforts to stick a foot in and disrupt the opposition.
He is athletic and technically astute, and deserves to start the Premier League season after the form he is exhibiting.
Even Sean Dyche has praised Iroegbunam.
So, it would be such a shame to see his potential spot taken by Phillips, a temporary fix who might not even perform better than the former Aston Villa man would.
