“Sky Sports Journalist Confirms £33m Midfielder Set to Complete Everton Medical Today Following Verbal Agreement”

Whether due to their slow start to the Premier League season or a deliberate strategy to seize the right moment, Everton, often called the Toffees, have made two late moves to strengthen their midfield.

The urgency and speed of one of these deals is evident, with a medical exam scheduled for today, indicating that the transfer is close to completion.

After a decisive win over Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Cup and an upcoming home match against AFC Bournemouth, Everton could be in a much stronger position by the end of the week.

Achieving this improvement begins with finalizing one or two key transfers.

One of the deals Everton is close to completing is for Lyon midfielder Orel Mangala.

Despite the club’s financial limitations, which manager Sean Dyche has frequently mentioned, Everton has managed to make significant signings this summer.

Director of Football Kevin Thelwell has successfully brought in Iliman Ndiaye, Tim Iroegbunam, Jesper Lindstrom, and later Jake O’Brien, all without much fuss.

These four acquisitions have bolstered the first team, but a lack of depth in the squad was exposed during their first two league matches.

Dyche faced difficulties in adjusting the midfield due to limited options, leading him to rely on 34-year-old Idrissa Gueye in both opening losses.

However, according to Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports, this situation is set to change with the potential arrival of Mangala.

Plettenberg reports that Mangala is expected to join Everton on a one-year loan with an option to buy for €40 million (£33 million), with a verbal agreement already in place with Lyon.

The deal is expected to be finalized after Mangala’s medical examination on Wednesday.

The addition of Mangala could significantly enhance Everton’s squad.

Dyche has stated that the reason he has not yet started his new signings is due to their lack of experience in the Premier League.

To avoid throwing them in too quickly, players like O’Brien, Ndiaye, and Lindstrom have not started in the first two league matches.

Mangala, however, would not face this issue, as he has already spent two years in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest before moving to Lyon this summer.

Mangala is a dynamic central midfielder who would likely take over from Gueye, providing a strong presence in the midfield.

He is known for his ability to win back possession, protect the backline, and make safe passes to more creative players.

During his first Premier League season, Mangala maintained an impressive 89% pass accuracy and averaged 1.3 interceptions, 1.4 tackles, 1.4 clearances, and 3.7 ball recoveries per game.

While some may question the £33 million valuation, the loan deal offers a low-risk opportunity for Everton to assess Mangala’s impact before committing to a permanent transfer.

This careful approach is another smart move by the club as they aim to strengthen their squad and improve their league performance.