Exclusive: Everton prepare £30m bid for ‘Rolls Royce’ defender with Moyes’ approval

David Moyes faces a challenging summer as his squad is set to shrink with multiple contracts expiring.

One confirmed departure is Abdoulaye Doucoure, who has admitted he will leave Everton after receiving no indication of a contract renewal from the club.

Despite a generally positive atmosphere on Merseyside, April could be a tough month for Everton, given their difficult run of fixtures.

A string of losses could expose weaknesses in the squad, particularly with several players currently sidelined due to injury.

According to TBR Football’s Chief Transfer Correspondent, Graeme Bailey, Everton are already preparing for summer reinforcements and have identified an in-demand defender as a key target.

Everton Target Burnley’s Maxime Esteve

The Friedkin Group is set to financially support David Moyes in the summer transfer window after a quiet January.

Sources have informed Everton News that Burnley’s Maxime Esteve is a major target for the Toffees.

However, Everton will face stiff competition for the 22-year-old centre-back, with Crystal Palace also showing strong interest.

Burnley, currently pushing for automatic promotion back to the Premier League, will be reluctant to part ways with Esteve.

The Clarets valued him at £30 million in January, making any potential deal a difficult negotiation.

Burnley co-owner JJ Watt even praised Esteve as a “Rolls Royce” defender on Instagram, highlighting his importance to the team.

With several Burnley players expected to leave in the summer, the club will likely fight to retain him.

Everton are preparing for defensive changes, with Michael Keane expected to leave when his contract expires.

However, they are eager to secure a new deal for Jarrad Branthwaite. Regardless of those decisions, defensive reinforcements will be necessary.

Moyes Open to Championship Signings

Significant behind-the-scenes changes are underway at Finch Farm.

The Friedkins are revamping Everton’s recruitment structure, with Kevin Thelwell set to leave and Angus Kinnear arriving as part of the overhaul.

With summer recruitment plans already taking shape, Everton have shown interest in Sunderland’s Chris Rigg and are willing to explore the Championship market for signings.

David Moyes has previously endorsed targeting second-tier players, emphasizing that Everton should always monitor Championship talent. Speaking in January, he stated:

“The Championship is always a place we should be looking at.

Given our position, we could use a couple of seasoned players, but if not, we need to bring in players to strengthen the squad.”

As Everton navigate a transitional period, their summer business will be crucial in shaping the squad for Moyes’ tenure.