Everton close in on double deal for £55m pair with Dyche set to signficantly boost his attack
Everton are looking to get two transfers over the line with Udinese’s Beto and Leeds United’s Wilfried Gnonto closing in on transfers to Goodison Park, according to reports.
The Toffees sealed a €12.5m deal for Sporting Lisbon forward Chermiti earlier this week and have already added Arnaut Danjuma and Ashley Young to their ranks this summer.
Everton have been relying heavily on Dominic Calvert-Lewin for goals in recent seasons but his trouble with injuries last campaign mean Sean Dyche needs attacking reinforcements.
Calvert-Lewin only started 15 Premier League matches last term and now Everton are reportedly closing in on two more attacking talents.
Gnonto, who made a good impression in the Premier League last season at Leeds before their relegation, is unlikely to be in any matchday squads for the Yorkshire outfit as he looks to force a move before the transfer deadline.
Leeds have informed the Italian that he will not be sold his summer but Football Insider insist that ‘that a bid of £25million with a favourable payment structure could soften that stance’.
Everton have already had a bid of £20m turned down for Gnonto but the 19-year-old’s ‘head has been turned’ by the interest from the Toffees with Dyche’s side set to make another bid.
The Goodison Park outfit are also in ‘advanced talks to sign Udinese striker Beto’ with Football Insider claiming Everton have ‘turned their attention to landing the Portugese striker before the window shuts and a deal is now close’.
‘Everton are working on a loan deal with an obligation to buy.
‘It is believed that Udinese are willing to green-light the sale of Beto, who is contracted until 2026, following talks in the last 24 hours.’
Everton host Fulham at Goodison Park in their first match of the new Premier League season and Dyche has outlined their aims for the 2023/24 campaign.
Dyche told a pre-match press conference: “Our aim is to be better this season than the last, well, the last couple of seasons. In my time here we have done enough good work to make sure we stayed in the division, that was the biggest challenge.
“From there, can we take some of the stuff we have learnt from that forward and improve? I have confidence we can do that. Having a pre-season with the players, a few came in late due to internationals and a couple of injuries but generally, having a pre-season with them [helps]. Hopefully, rubbing off more of what we want from them.
“Plus, some of the things that I think are important. The truth of it will be when the whistle blows but so far during pre-season, it’s been a pretty solid pre-season with some good performances and a good energy and belief in what we are doing. We want that to go into the first game, and beyond.”
On transfers, Dyche added: “There are challenges, that has been apparent. We have been linked with many [players]. I said last year that was a big imbalance in the squad. Too many players in certain positions.
“We have had to rebalance, and we have somewhat done that. To rebalance, we have had to find players that can fill in the slots, but with a quality that we think is appropriate. It’s about finding the right mixture. We have got some experience here, can we find the next young players, as well, to add to that experience and build the squad in a different way from how it has been in the past.”
