Hello and welcome to your dedicated Everton live-blog for Sunday, June 16.
The next step of the Blues' pre-season tour is underway after they ran out 2-1 winners over French side Stade Nyonnais on Friday.
Before the match, Ashley Young became the first signing of the Sean Dyche era as he penned a one-year deal following his release from Aston Villa. But as well as incomings, there has been speculation over outgoings, with Jordan Pickford among them. According to reports, Everton have priced the England shot-stopper at £70m.
Meanwhile, Spanish outlets have dismissed claims that the Blues have agreed a deal with Almeria forward El Bilal Toure. On Saturday, news had surfaced that Dyche was close to making Toure his second summer signing, which has been rebuked locally.
Further reports suggest that Alex Iwobi is among three Everton players who will not be allowed to leave this summer. The midfielder has a year remaining on his contract and has faced speculation over his future.
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Keep tabs on the latest news, views and Everton FC transfer rumours below.
Goodnight, Blues!
Plenty going round the Everton rumour mill this Sunday, hopefully we'll have some official confirmation of the latest claims in the coming days.
It's also been a good week overall with the first win of pre-season on the board!
Thank you for following our blog today, goodnight and take care.
Dennis in, Gnonto out at Leeds?
Football Insider report that Nottingham Forest are set to allow forward Emmanuel Dennis to leave this summer, only a year after signing from Watford for £20 million. They also credit Leeds United with interest.
Interestingly, Dennis is a versatile forward who in his two-year stint in England so far has featured as either a striker or left winger - the latter being the same position of one Wilfried Gnonto, a player Everton have seen a £15 million bid rejected for.
Putting two and two together, could Dennis' arrival at Elland Road pave the way Gnonto's switch to Goodison Park? It has potential.
Further details on rejected Gnonto bid
The ECHO's sister site Leeds Live have reported further details of Everton's rejected bid for Wilfried Gnonto, highlighting the fact his current club maintain he is not for sale.
Earlier today, the Daily Mail wrote that a £15 million offer had been dismissed by the Yorkshire club as they would rather have a player of that calibre at their disposal in an attempt to bounce straight back into the Premier League, instead of the cash in hand.
The Italian is expected to return to Leeds for pre-season training tomorrow.
Maguire stripped of United captaincy
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Harry Maguire has been stripped of the Manchester United captaincy
After discussions with the manager today he has informed me he is changing captain. He outlined his reasons to me and whilst I’m personally extremely disappointed, I will continue to give my all every time I wear the shirt.
— Harry Maguire (@HarryMaguire93) July 16, 2023
So I wanted to say a massive thank you to the… pic.twitter.com/TAOS0eisF1
Pickford speaks out on Everton future
Speaking to The Athletic at Liverpool's Royal Golf Club, the Blues' No.1 said: “Definitely [when asked if he would be at Everton next season].
"I’ve just signed a new contract and I’m happy and my family is happy so now we just want to move forward as a club.”
Ramsdale sends Pickford message
Arsenal shot-stopper Aaron Ramsdale has spoken about his desire to be England's first-choice for next year's European Championships in Germany, but understands the level of competition provided by Everton's Jordan Pickford.
The 25-year-old was asked by Kicker, "On Thursday you played with Arsenal in Germany against 1. FC Nürnberg. How about playing in Germany again next summer at the European Championships?"
"That would be incredible. But first I need to play well for Arsenal to get into the squad and oust a superb goalkeeper there in Jordan Pickford," he replied. "Of course, it's every boy's dream to represent his country in a major tournament. And that too in a country with such great footballing importance and culture, which appreciates football so much. That would be very special."
Everton have bid 'rejected' for Leeds star
Everton have reportedly had a bid for Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto rejected.
According to the Mail, the Blues have had a bid of £15m rejected for the Italy international, who impressed during his sole season in the Premier League with the Whites last year.
However, as reported by the ECHO's Joe Thomas last week: "Everton and Leeds United do share a positive relationship behind the scenes and reports suggest further departures from Elland Road are likely.
"Yet Leeds are understood to still see him as their player - he is under contract for a further four years, considered to be on an affordable salary despite the club’s relegation and the ECHO understands he does not have a buy-out clause."
It's one to keep an eye on in the days and weeks ahead!
Everton scout leaves after seven years at the club
Jamie Hoyland has left his role as a European senior scout at Everton.
Hoyland joined Everton in 2016, focusing on under-23 recruitment with David Unsworth, but was appointed lead first-team scout by Marcel Brands in the summer of 2019. The promotion was part of a restructure of the club’s recruitment teams conducted by the Dutchman.
The former Manchester City, Bury and Sheffield United midfielder then became the a European senior scout at the club, covering Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands from July 2020. Prior to joining Everton, Hoyland worked as a match summariser for BBC Radio Lancashire and was a senior scout at the Football Association, responsible for watching games concerning England's under-21 and under-18 sides.
Taking to LinkedIn to confirm his exit from Everton, Hoyland wrote: "What an honour & a pleasure it has been to represent Everton Football Club over the last seven years
"To have been the Lead scout in the recruitment & signing of Dominic Calvert-Lewin & Jarred Branthwaite has been been a great source of professional & personal pride for me.
"I look forward to new challenges with the same excitement & work ethic that I have always given as the passion is still burning for the game I love."
777 Partners seek to raise £171m to buy Premier League club after Everton talks
The American investment firm that had been in talks with Everton owner Farhad Moshiri over a potential takeover are seeking to raise €200m (£171m) for its football portfolio.
Miami-based 777 Partners held talks with Moshiri and his representatives with regard to an equity stake in the Blues before Moshiri entered into an exclusivity agreement with New York fund MSP Sports Capital over a 25 per cent deal via a preferential share structure, which are effectively loans with warrants that could be turned into equity.
It is understood that 777 Partners, who had considered a full takeover of Everton, wanted greater assurances over Premier League status being secured, while MSP’s desire to be a junior partner in any deal, with the focus being on the upside of the stadium build at Bramley-Moore Dock and bringing considerable business building expertise, were the preferred option for Moshiri.
The deal with MSP is fully expected to go through later this summer, while 777 Partners have now moved on from their interest in the Blues and have set their sights on acquiring another club to add to their growing portfolio, with the desire to purchase a Premier League club understood to be strong. Among those who are reportedly of interest to 777 are West Ham United and newly-promoted Sheffield United.
Read the full story, here.
Victor Boniface tageted?
According to a report in Belgium, Everton have made the necessary steps to seek "initial information" about Union Saint-Gilloise (USG) striker Victor Boniface.
The 22-year-old forward scored 22 goals in all competitions last season.
We are not yet at the stage of formal negotiations but I understand #EvertonFC took initial information on player’s side to glimpse the possibilities of a deal for Victor Boniface.
— Sacha Tavolieri (@sachatavolieri) July 15, 2023
There is actually absolutely NO offer for the Nigerian striker on the table of #USG even… pic.twitter.com/xVBHggLgOa
Reports: Everton edge towards the signing of Wilfried Gnonto
Everton are close to completing the signing of Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto, according to a report in Italy.
In Sunday's edition of the publication Corriere dello Sport, it is claimed that the 19-year-old is progressing with a move to Goodison Park after snubbing interest from Italy.
The report adds: "After the acceleration of the last few days, the move to Everton appears ever closer.”
ICYMI: Dele perspective change is long overdue after emotional interview sends clear Everton message
Dele’s courage in opening up in the way he did will hopefully change the narrative around his career to date.
For so long it has been viewed through a post-2018 prism, of his struggle to maintain the form that enabled him to lead Tottenham Hotspur to a Champions League final and then England to a World Cup semi-final. His journey from one of the most sought after talents in football to his turbulent loan spell at Besiktas has been well-documented.
Instead, a different perspective should prevail. Dele deserves immense respect for having enjoyed so much success in the face of such adversity. It is not possible to put into words the strength it must have required to have reached the top of the game while fighting such trauma. He is an inspiration.
He always has been, but football can be unforgiving. Hopefully Dele’s bravery in opening up will allow it to become a little less toxic. No-one knows what any other person is going through. It does not matter how famous or well-off you are, everyone has their battles.
As football has gathered momentum with the return of pre-season, speculation about what will happen next in Dele’s career has attracted interest. That is not really what matters. What is important is his belief he is now in a good place having recognised the need for support and taken steps to seek it.
Read this week's Royal Blue column, here.
Maguire linked with West Ham
According to the Mail, West Ham are exploring a move for Manchester United defender Harry Maguire following the £105m departure of Declan Rice to Arsenal.
The report claims that Hammers boss David Moyes is willing to offer the 30-year-old a lifeline to salvage his career. Maguire made just eight Premier League starts last season and slipped down the pecking order under Erik ten Hag.
However, the report also claims that the England international would need to take a substantial pay cut to fit in with the Hammers' wage structure.
Maguire, it is also claimed, has accepted that he would be best served by leaving Old Trafford this summer, and was linked with a loan move to Everton earlier this summer.
Alex Iwobi not for sale
Dean Jones has told Give Me Sport that Alex Iwobi will not be allowed to leave Everton.
The former Arsenal midfielder has one more year remaining on his deal at Goodison Park prompting speculation over his future.
But the journalist has claimed that he along with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jordan Pickford will not be sold this summer.
"There has been plenty of speculation around Everton and who they will sell to raise funds this summer and a lot has been made of Jordan Pickford potentially being the one that brings in a lot of cash," he told Give Me Sport.
“That actually goes against what I am hearing on the situation now that we are here in the middle of the transfer window and heading towards the new season.
“Pickford is not available for transfer, it seems a pretty clear stance from what I’m hearing.
“Obviously he and Calvert-Lewin are the two big names in that team that could make the jump up to a team playing in Europe, but I don’t see it happening as things stand.
“The same goes for Alex Iwobi to be honest, he is one they want as an instrumental figure in the team and while there have been a couple of reports suggesting he will be available in this window, I do not believe that to be the case.”
Everton name Jordan Pickford price
According to the Daily Star, Everton have 'slapped' a £70m price-tag on Jordan Pickford.
It has been claimed the Blues have issued the fee on the England number one in order to kill Manchester United's hopes of landing the Blues shot-stopper.
United are on the hunt for a goalkeeper following the departure of David de Gea with reports suggesting Pickford has been outlined as Erik ten Hag's number one.
Other reports suggest they are close to signing Andre Onana from Inter Milan.
Everton have not reached El Bilal Toure agreement
According to Marca, Everton have not reached an agreement with Almeria to sign El Bilal Toure.
The Blues had reportedly agreed terms with the forward but the Spanish outlet has rebuffed the claim.
It was said that a fee of £25m was accepted by the La Liga outfit.
Everton face competition from Atalanta for El Bilal with the Serie A outfit facing pressure from Manchester United for Rasmus Holjund.
Good morning!
Hello and welcome to today's Everton live-blog.
Stay tuned as we bring you all the latest news, transfer gossip and insight into the Blues pre-season tour.
