Report: Everton to Compete with Two Premier League Clubs for £17m Player Admired by Sean Dyche
Everton have already had a busy summer navigating the transfer market, but it's widely anticipated that they are not done yet.
Everton have a solid squad but lack depth in a few key areas. Kevin Thelwell has already made progress by adding competition for Abdoulaye Doucoure with the likely signing of Iliman Ndiaye and making the shrewd move of bringing back Jack Harrison. However, the ageing backline remains a significant concern.
Fortunately, plans are in place to address this issue. Everton is looking to sign Jake O’Brien from Lyon. According to The Athletic, O’Brien is attracting interest from various Premier League clubs, including West Ham and Nottingham Forest. Lyon values the Republic of Ireland international at around £17 million ($21 million), but no deal has progressed yet. Crystal Palace, who sold O’Brien to Lyon for around £1 million ($1.2 million) last summer, will receive 25% of any profit from his sale.
The Liverpool ECHO reports that Everton manager Sean Dyche admires O’Brien. With Jarrad Branthwaite likely staying at Everton, the plan seems to be for O’Brien to partner with the 22-year-old rather than replace him. This is especially relevant since Everton recently sold Ben Godfrey to Atalanta and both James Tarkowski and Michael Keane are now 31 years old, highlighting the need for a defensive revamp at Goodison Park.
O’Brien could be an ideal addition, not only because he wouldn’t be too expensive but also because he would fit well into Dyche’s system with minimal adjustment. Last season in Ligue 1, the 23-year-old averaged 3.4 long balls per game, along with 3.6 clearances and 4.7 ball recoveries per game. Compared to Branthwaite and Tarkowski, O’Brien is more accurate with his long passes, a critical trait for a defender under Dyche, and is equally adept at defending the box.
Standing at 6 feet 5 inches, O’Brien also poses a significant goal threat, making him a valuable addition to Everton’s defense. He would seamlessly integrate into the team and provide a strong third option as Everton heads into their final year at Goodison Park.
