Hello and welcome to the ECHO's dedicated Everton news and transfers blog on Saturday, May 27.
Everton have been handed a double injury blow for their huge relegation showdown against Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon at Goodison Park (4.30pm) with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Nathan Patterson ruled out by Sean Dyche while speaking in the build-up. However, they do have survival in their own hands.
As the Premier League season reaches its conclusion, the Blues hold a two-point advantage on Leeds United and Leicester City with one game remaining. Even at such an important juncture, though, Everton do have one eye on the upcoming transfer window amid updates on Yerry Mina, Calvert-Lewin and out-on-loan Andre Gomes.
According to reports, French outfit Lille want Gomes to stay put with them into next season. However, they have 'no chance' of conjuring up a permanent agreement for the 29-year-old Portuguese midfielder.
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Keep tabs on the latest news, views and Everton FC transfer rumours below.
Key Events
BREAKING: Yerry Mina to leave Everton
Yerry Mina has just confirmed he will be leaving Everton after almost five years at Goodison Park!
Watch the video in which he confirms his departure below...
https://www.instagram.com/p/CsweG3ENBW_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
That's all folks!
That's the end of today's live blog, thanks for tuning in Blues!
Sleep well - tomorrow's a big one. We'll all be hoping for a positive outcome!
Night folks!
ICYMI: Full story on Mina exit
In case you have not seen, Everton defender Yerry Mina has confirmed he will be leaving the club this summer.
The Colombia international arrived at Goodison Park back in 2018, joining from Barcelona in a deal worth €30.25m.
Mina, 28, had not featured at all under new manager Sean Dyche until the 5-1 win away at Brighton last month. Since then he has started the games against Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
But in a heartfelt video message posted on his Instagram tonight, Mina confirmed tomorrow's match at home to Bournemouth will be his last.
Mina said: "Hello Toffees, I hope you are good. I have a message and invitation for you. This Sunday I will play my last game for Everton Football Club.
Everton to be joined by Luton Town in the PL if Toffees survive
While Everton's Premier League fate will be known within less than 24 hours, one thing now certain is that Luton Town will be competing in the Premier League for the first-ever time next season. Rob Edwards' side beat Coventry City in the Championship play off final.
If the Toffees survive, they will visit Kenilworth Road for the first time since 2006, when Tim Cahill scored an extra time winner to see Everton progress to the fifth round of the League Cup.
Blues defender issues update on future
Toffees defender Niels Nkounkou has said his future will be decided once the season ends after spending time on loan at French side at Saint Etienne.
Having initially joined Cardiff City of the Championship in August, Nkounkou's underwhelming loan spell in the Welsh capital was cut as he returned to his homeland with the second-tier outfit.
Nkounkou has since established himself as a star man at Saint Etienne with six goals and eight assists in 18 league games so far.
It is believed Saint Etienne have an option to turn his loan deal into a permanent one for €2m at the end of his loan deal.
Nevertheless, Nkounkou remained coy on what lies ahead, telling Onze Mondial: “As I’ve always said, my mission was to come to Saint-Étienne to help the club stay up.
“That objective has almost been achieved. I’m not really thinking about my future. First of all, I want to finish the season well, collectively and individually. After that, depending on my performances, we’ll see what the future holds for me.
“I need to be good every weekend. After that, I’ll think about whether I should stay at Saint-Étienne or sign elsewhere, bearing in mind that I belong to Everton. I’m not getting worked up, I’m just concentrating on the pitch.
“We’ll see what happens. I don’t know if Saint-Étienne have my option to buy. By showing what I’m showing in L2, it makes me want to test myself at the next level.
“But are any clubs interested in my profile? We don’t know. That’s why I’m not getting worked up. If Marseille are looking for a left-back, good for them. Personally, I want to finish at Saint-Étienne, and then we’ll see.”
Star duo set to be sold if Toffees are relegated
The Guardian report that Amadou Onana and Jordan Pickford will be the first players to be sold if Everton are relegated from the Premier League.
Sean Dyche's side need beat Bournemouth on Sunday to secure their Premier League status for another year and will relegate both Leicester City and Leeds United by doing so.
Onana only joined the Blues from Lille last summer but has already developed a fan-favourite status on Merseyside due to some commanding midfield displays.
Pickford, however, is one of the club's longest-serving players, having joined Everton from Sunderland almost six years ago and has been an ever-present between the sticks.
Marching down...Bold Street!
Love this video from town last night after the 'Duncan Ferguson: My Story' event at the Phil.
A flavour of the support that the Blues will have behind them tomorrow:
After the Big Dunc event last night #EFC pic.twitter.com/xoD01jdkRp
— Mike Quinn (@mikedale1121) May 27, 2023
McNeil couldn't watch Everton rivals
While thousands of beleaguered Blues watched the nerve-racking final moments of relegation rivals Leicester City’s game at Newcastle United through their fingers or maybe even behind their couch, Dwight McNeil snubbed the Premier League action to re-watch a lockdown television favourite.
Instead of holding his breath alongside the masses while Nick Pope kept out Timothy Castagne’s stoppage time volley – an effort that almost caused a stunning smash-and-grab win for the Foxes that would have left Sean Dyche’s side back in the drop zone and struggling to find a way out with their inferior goal difference – the winger was taking in archive footage of basketball superstar Michael Jordan’s exploits but he must now hope that Sunday doesn’t bring ‘The Last Dance’ for Everton in the Premier League after 69 years of continuous top flight football.
Asked whether he tuned in to view the matches at the London Stadium and St James’ Park to see whether Everton’s fate would remain in their own hands going into their final fixture of the season at home to Bournemouth, McNeil said: “I didn’t watch any of the Leeds game. I was out with my missus for the afternoon."
Chris Beesley has the full story here.
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Branthwaite transfer claim
PSV are unlikely to sign Jarrad Branthwaite permanently due to Everton’s high asking price.
That's according to Eindhovens Dagblad, who are reporting that PSV were keen on keeping the 20-year-old at the Philips Stadion but Everton are asking for at least £12 million.
The report then goes on to claim that the fee is too high for PSV and they are now searching for other defensive options.
Everton Stadium company secures external funding
The holding company behind Everton’s new stadium on the banks of the River Mersey has secured some external funding, according to public documents made available via Companies House.
Everton Stadium Development Holding Company Limited (ESDHC) incurred a charge on May 19, a development that relates to funding being sourced from a lender.
The charge in this case specifically relates to the stadium’s holding company, with an agreement with an agent, Ormskirk-based Blythe Capital, detailed.
Blythe Capital, which is owned by Everton fan Andrew Bell, chief of the successful AJ Bell investment firm, is detailed as the agent but that does not mean that Blythe Capital are the lender in this particular case.
The Companies House charge states that ‘the lenders have agreed to make a loan to the borrower (ESDHC) relying on, among other security, the security interest created in this deed’.
Read the full story from Dave Powell here.
Royal Blue column
“It amazes me how many Everton fans are around. Everton is a big club. You can be out minding your business and you see fans and they are so lively and energetic for the club. It just makes me feel like it is a privilege and an honour to represent such a big club. It shows me who I am doing this for. I am not just doing it for people here, I am actually talking to people and it affects them and if Everton go down they will be devastated. It shows how much Everton means to them. If I am not doing this for myself, then at least let me do it for them.”
Alex Iwobi’s words this week hold poignance and power and showcase knowledge of what is at stake when the Nigeria international and his team-mates walk onto the Goodison Park pitch on Sunday afternoon.
When they emerge from the tunnel, seconds after the siren has reverberated around the Grand Old Lady and as Z-Cars fights the supporters for control of the airwaves, the atmosphere will no doubt be intense.
Read Joe Thomas' full Royal Blue column here.
Everton 'demanding' £12m for Branthwaite
PSV Eindhoven want to keep Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite but there is an obstacle.
According to Eindhovens Dagblad via Football Oranje, the Blues asking price is too high.
The defender has shone for the Eredivisie side this season and was favourite under Ruud van Nistelrooy. However, the former Manchester United will leave his role at the end of the season.
It has been claimed that the Blues want £12m.
Lille eye Gomes deal
According to reports in France, Lille will look to keep Everton loanee Andre Gomes on loan for next season.
As per La Voix du Nord, the Ligue 1 side can't afford a permanent deal for the Portugal midfielder with the demands not fitting their financial structure.
It remains unclear what the future holds at Goodison Park but it's been claimed that there is interest that he remains in France albeit on a temporary basis.
Mina attracting interest
Besiktas are reportedly looking to tempt Yerry Mina away from Everton.
According to Fanatik, the Turkish club could offer a deal worth £41,000-per-week plus bonuses to bring the defender to the club.
Mina is out of contract in the summer at Goodison Park.
The outlet says the current wage demands of the Colombian are out of their range but they are said to be planning a deal with bonuses to secure his signature.
Hello and welcome to our Everton blog
Hello and welcome to our latest Everton news and transfers blog.
Stay tuned for rumours and more from Goodison Park and beyond.
