
Good morning and welcome to our LIVE Everton transfer blog for Monday, July 31.
Everton continue to be linked with a move for Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho as well as Juventus winger Samuel Iling-Junior. There is also an update from Sean Dyche on the fitness of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
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Keep tabs on the latest news, views and Everton FC transfer rumours below.
Fulham strike 'verbal agreement' with Everton for Gray
Fulham have struck a 'verbal agreement' with Everton for the signing of Demarai Gray.
Sky Sports have stated this is the case, though the Blues' winger will not be permitted to depart until 'Sean Dyche has added to the squad'.
Personal terms will not be an issue, it is added.

Tom Cannon claim
Stoke City manager Alex Neil has refused to publicly comment on the potential of Tom Cannon spending the season on loan at the Championship club.
Cannon is understood to be a target for a number of second tier sides, having shone at Preston North End last term, with Stoke among the sides to have been linked.
Asked to comment on the potential of the Potters recruiting the forward, Neil said: "I’m not going to talk about anybody else’s players, I don’t think that’s fair because he’s not our player. I don’t discuss other people’s players. We are looking to add more players to our squad, whether Tom is one of them or not remains to be seen, but we still have bits to add."

Gomes attracting Saudi interest
Saudi Arabian clubs are understood to be eyeing a move for Andre Gomes.
The Everton midfielder caught the eye during his loan with Lille last term, the French club understood to be keen on bringing him back as a result.
Though the Blues also have 'tentative interest in the Portuguese star from Saudi sides, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Branthwaite interest
Manchester United are said to be plotting a move for Everton defender, Jarrad Branthwaite.
The English centre-back impressed during his loan spell with PSV Eindhoven last season and could now be handed the chance to impress Sean Dyche this campaign.
There is also the other possibility of offers arriving for Branthwaite, which could come true if a latest report by the Daily Mail is to be believed.
It is stated United are 'interested' in the 21-year-old as Erik ten Hag's side eye two reinforcements in this area of the pitch.

Premier League aiming to address tragedy abuse
The FA, Premier League and EFL are introducing a series of measures to improve the behaviour of players, managers and coaches in the professional and grassroots game, and address the issue of football tragedy abuse
The FA, Premier League and EFL are introducing a series of measures to improve the behaviour of players, managers and coaches in the professional and grassroots game, and address the issue of football tragedy abuse#LoveFootball | #ProtectTheGame
— Premier League (@premierleague) July 31, 2023
Youssef Chermiti details explained
According to Paul Joyce of the Times, the Record in Portugal are reporting that will Everton will pay €15m for Youssef Chermiti, with the potential for the deal to rise to €20m.
However, it is claimed that Sporting CP want a 20% sell-on clause, with Everton currently only offering half of that.

Youssef Chermiti transfer latest as Everton striker search takes next step
Everton's search for further attacking options has taken a step forward with the club's attention turning to Sporting striker Youssef Chermiti.
The Blues are understood to be in talks with the Portuguese side - with whom Everton have good relations - over the teenage forward.
The 19-year-old broke into the side’s first team earlier this year, making his debut against Sporting’s fierce rivals Benfica, and went on to score three league goals.
His form was enough to convince the Lisbon outfit to sign him to a new four-year deal, reported to contain a release clause of 80m Euros. Everton’s interest follows the unsuccessful pursuit of El Bilal Toure and comes with the club set to host Sporting in its final public pre-season friendly on Saturday.
Joe Thomas has the full story, here.

Everton fans have already hijacked Youssef Chermiti Wikipedia!
Well, it didn’t take long for Youssef Chermiti’s Wikipedia page to get some new visitors! pic.twitter.com/RsE3C3mImP
— Joe Thomas (@joe_thomas18) July 31, 2023
Everton 'agree' deal for Youssef Chermiti
The Portuguese forward scored three goals for Sporting CP last season.
EXCL: Everton reached an agreement in principle with Sporting to sign Youssef Chermiti as new striker #EFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 31, 2023
Deal in place between clubs — verbally agreed in the recent hours for 2004 born striker to join PL side. pic.twitter.com/ksetorB2ur
Youssef Chermiti reaction
Well...a name out of the blue, it is certainly fair to say. But an exciting one.
Here is what Evertonians are saying on Twitter about Youssef Chermiti...
@EvertonArentWe: Not sure we can rely on this kid for goals at this stage of his career. Hopefully we’re working on another forward too.
@WeAreLovedOnes: Never heard of him / getting his name on my new shirt
@EllBretland: With the Chermiti link, you would expect even at 19 he would be one for the first-team just purely because he is actually younger than Simms and Cannon and so must be viewed as ready to play games. Interesting one and I'm all for going for potential as a long-term plan.
@ElliotB1878: Young ✅ Danjuma✅ Chermiti ⏳ If Everton can get another striker who’s ready (Iheanacho, Adams) to relieve the pressure, a winger and a centre back I’d be over the moon
Youssef Chermiti transfer latest
Some potentially big news this afternoon - and it concerns a striker!
Youssef Chermiti could be on the way to Everton.
Fabrizio Romano tweeted today: "Everton reached an agreement in principle with Sporting to sign Youssef Chermiti as new striker.
"Deal in place between clubs — verbally agreed in the recent hours for 2004 born striker to join PL side."
And Alan Myers followed up with: "As per @FabrizioRomano Everton have agreed a deal with Sporting Lisbon for Youseff Chermiti, still work to do, including personal terms but looking positive, Wolves and Bournemouth also linked".
We're checking the latest on this asap. Sounds promising for the Blues.

Blues to continue pre-season preparations on Tuesday
Everton will continue their preparations for the new Premier League season by facing Serie A side AC Monza in a behind-closed-doors match on Tuesday.
Sean Dyche's side will begin the new Premier League season on August 12 when they welcome Fulham to Goodison Park. So far this summer the Blues have faced four different opponents, with Saturday's 1-0 win over Stoke City adding to earlier friendlies against Bolton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic and Swiss side FC Stade Nyonnais.
And ahead of the final friendly of the summer against Sporting CP on August 5 at Goodison Park, the Blues will now take on Raffaele Palladino's side in their efforts to strengthen their summer preparations.
The outing will hand Dyche the opportunity to further assess his striking options ahead of the new season, with Arnaut Danjuma and Dominic Calvert-Lewin yet to play alongside one another after the England international was left out of Saturday's trip to the Bet 365 Stadium.

Boulaye Dia could be 'charmed' into move to Everton
Boulaye Dia is reportedly happy to stay with Serie A outfit Salernitana for the upcoming season but a "substantial offer" could soon change that stance.
According to Lacittadisalerno, the forward, who scored 16 goals in 33 games last season, an offer from Everton could "suddenly captivate" Dia.
Would you like to see the forward at Goodison Park this season, Blues?

Sean Dyche makes admission over Arnaut Danjuma position after Everton transfer blow
Sean Dyche believes Arnaut Danjuma is best used in a supporting role, further highlighting Everton’s need for a striker this summer.
The new signing started up front by himself against Stoke City as he played his first 45 minutes for the club. He had little effective service and had to watch as several long balls went over his head during a frustrating first half for the Blues.
Speaking after the game, Dyche suggested Danjuma was selected to lead the line for fitness purposes rather than tactical ones and said he was pleased with his display.
The Everton manager's comments suggest he hopes to use the 26-year-old on the wing or behind a forward - showcasing his belief in the potential for him to form a partnership with Dominic Calvert-Lewin. But with the striker’s injury misfortune across consecutive seasons his words also underline the need for Blues to secure effective back-up - a search now extending into the latter stages of a third transfer window.
Dyche believes Danjuma’s versatility will be useful and is confident the attacker, who signed on loan from Villarreal earlier this month, will strengthen his options. Offering some insight into his plans for the Dutch international, Dyche said: “I don’t necessarily think he’s an out and out centre forward but we need minutes and can only play certain players in certain positions.
“I was pleased with the work ethic. We know he can operate in a number of different positions. We know he can play wide or sort of in the nine-and-a-half/10 role, so we’ll see. We think he can offer something, which is why we brought him in.”
Read the full story, here.

Tete linked with Everton
Everton and Napoli are interested in signing Brazilian winger Tete, according to Calcio Mercato.
Napoli are reportedly offloading former Everton target Hirving Lozano this summer and could target Tete as a replacement.
But the Italian outlet also say Everton are considering a move after he terminated his contract at Shakhtar Donetsk.
Tete spent the first half of last season on loan at Lyon and the second half with Leicester City. He scored one goal in 13 appearances for the Foxes.

Calvert-Lewin fitness update
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s route back to getting on the pitch is being taken “a day at a time” by Everton’s coaching staff.
The striker has been working on a mixed training schedule, taking part in some first-team sessions while also doing additional fitness work. He was not involved in the matchday squad for the friendly win over Stoke City but did train at Finch Farm on the day of the game.
Blues boss Sean Dyche is keen not to “overload” Calvert-Lewin as he looks to build the fitness and resilience to play a significant role in the upcoming campaign after consecutive seasons blighted by injury.
His progress comes as Everton are continuing the search for forward options that will reduce the pressure on the England international after they missed out on target El Bilal Toure, who instead headed to Atalanta after the Serie A side struck a deal with Almeria.
Joe Thomas has the full story here.

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