**Everton’s Interest in Jan-Niklas Beste: What He Could Bring to Sean Dyche’s Squad**
Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenburg, based in Munich, has reported that Everton are in talks about signing Jan-Niklas Beste this summer. While Heidenheim hopes to get over €10 million (£8.5 million) for the winger, a more realistic transfer fee would be between €5-7 million (£4.2 million-£5.9 million). Other clubs, including Villarreal, Fiorentina, Genoa, and Galatasaray, are also interested, but Beste currently prefers to stay in Germany.
If Beste does move to Merseyside, his playing style is quite unique compared to current Premier League wingers. According to Comparisonator’s Similarity Comparison, the closest match to Beste in the Premier League is Newcastle United’s Miguel Almiron at 63%, followed by Fulham’s Bobby De Cordova-Reid (51%) and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Kaoru Mitoma (47%).
In the 2023/24 season, Beste scored eight goals and provided 13 assists in 31 matches for Heidenheim during their first-ever Bundesliga season. This combination of attacking prowess and defensive commitment makes him an appealing option for Everton. Comparisonator’s Virtual Transfer tool highlights Beste’s 2.38 shot assists per 90 minutes, which surpasses anyone in the Premier League, with Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku at 2.12, followed by Tottenham Hotspur’s Heung-min Son (2) and Everton’s Dwight McNeil (1.91).
Beste also excels in assists per 90 minutes, ranking just behind Tottenham’s Brennan Johnson (0.48) with 0.39, and he would be second for expected assists (0.3) behind Son (0.35). His 22% success rate for scoring shots is impressive, topped only by Man City’s Phil Foden (31%), Aston Villa’s John McGinn (25%), and Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard (24%). Beste ranks sixth in shots on target (50%), with Burnley’s Jacob Bruun Larsen leading at 63%, and ninth in opportunities converted (0.28), with Foden leading at 0.73.
Dyche would value Beste’s off-the-ball contributions as well. Beste’s 60% successful defensive actions match Premier League leader McNeil, indicating his capability to fulfill Dyche’s defensive demands. Beste also has 3.01 interceptions per 90 minutes, second only to McNeil (3.04), and his 1.16 clearances are bettered only by Crystal Palace’s Jeffrey Schlupp.
In terms of distribution, Beste ranks just behind Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli (1.44) in successful crosses, with 1.37, and ahead of McNeil (1.31). His 71% success rate for through-balls would rank him fourth in the Premier League, led by Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho at 100%. Beste also ranks seventh for long passes (2), with West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta leading at 4.94.
Overall, Beste represents a comprehensive and versatile player who could fit well into Dyche’s system. With Everton’s ongoing financial constraints and the unresolved takeover saga, Beste’s relatively modest price tag makes him a tantalizing option. He could be a more economical choice compared to a permanent move for Jack Harrison, with discussions about Harrison’s future continuing after Leeds United’s Championship play-off loss to Southampton. If Everton can convince Beste to leave Germany, he might prove to be a valuable and strategic addition to their squad.
