Everton in Active Talks to Sign £8m Midfield Star as Dyche Aims to Secure 6ft 2in Powerhouse – Report
Everton recently sold their midfield talisman, Amadou Onana, to Premier League rivals Aston Villa and are now in the market for a replacement.
Jens Cajuste has emerged as a top target after his proposed move to Brentford collapsed.
According to TEAMtalk, Napoli is now trying to secure a move for the Swedish international, with executives in the UK to hold talks with interested clubs.
The report adds that Everton is now in active talks to sign Cajuste on a possible loan deal as manager Sean Dyche looks to bring the 25-year-old to Goodison Park this month.
Cajuste is keen on playing in the Premier League, but Everton could face further competition as Brentford still holds an interest in signing the midfielder, while Ipswich Town is also eyeing the Swede.
TEAMtalk notes that Napoli will want to include a buy option in any loan deal, but the 6ft 2in midfielder is valued at just £8m by Transfermarkt, so any permanent deal shouldn’t break the bank.
Backup options
According to the report, Everton is lining up alternative options in case they fail to secure Cajuste.
The Toffees have also shown a keen interest in Lesley Ugochukwu, with the midfielder set to leave Chelsea this summer.
Ugochukwu has struggled to make an impact at Stamford Bridge since arriving from Rennes last year, and Everton could offer him a chance to resurrect his career at Goodison Park.
However, it appears the France U21 international is heading to Southampton on loan, so Everton will need to find another alternative target if they fail to land Cajuste.
Despite having a small budget to spend this summer, Everton has done some good business in signing quality players to strengthen their squad.
They signed highly promising center-back Jake O’Brien from Lyon, and 2022-23 Sheffield United player of the season Ilyman Ndiaye joined from Marseille.
They also completed the permanent signing of Tim Iroegbunam and the loan signing of Jesper Lindstrom from Aston Villa and Napoli, respectively.
Adding Cajuste would further strengthen Sean Dyche’s side and present them with a better chance of securing Premier League survival next season.
