Hello and welcome to our dedicated Everton live blog for Friday, August 18. Sean Dyche will be previewing the Blues trip to Villa Park this weekend as they look to pick up their first win of the Premier League campaign.
Wilfried Gnonto remains in the cold at Leeds United. Everton retain an interest in the Italy international but the Championship side are standing firm over their attacker.
FC Porto winger Goncalo Borges has become the latest player to be linked with a switch to Goodison Park. Ashley Young, Youssef Chermiti and Jack Harrison are all among the arrivals at Goodison Park this summer. However, the Blues are reportedly facing competition from West Ham for Borges.
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Keep tabs on the latest news, views and Everton FC transfer rumours below.
Wilfried Gnonto to Everton latest as new details emerge ahead of 'transfer request'
Leeds United's CEO has maintained that Wilfried Gnonto is not for sale.
Angus Kinnear recently entered meetings with the Leeds United Supporters Trust to provide reassurances, with fans of the Yorkshire club clearly fearful of the future after Everton's loan signing of Jack Harrison and interest in their prized 19-year-old.
His admission came before claims emerged of a formal transfer request, so it remains to be seen what impact that will have on Leeds' plan.
Read the full story HERE.
Gnonto transfer request claim
David Ornstein claims that Wilfried Gnonto has submitted a written transfer request to Leeds United this evening.
The winger has been subject to mutiple bids from Everton but has been kept under lock and key so far at Elland Road this summer, with his club maintaining he is not for sale.
Sean Dyche and Everton ambassadors pay tribute to Michael Jones
Everton boss Sean Dyche was part of a delegation from the club that paid tribute to Michael Jones, the construction worker who tragically lost his life working at Bramley Moore Dock this week.
Jones - a lifelong-Evertonian - was injured in an accident on Tuesday and sadly died later that day in hospital. Tributes have poured in since, with the club also having stated that it will now work with his family 'on an appropriate and lasting tribute'.
Read the full story HERE.
Edwards named England under-20s boss
Former Everton assistant manager Joe Edwards has been installed as England's new men's under-20s manager ahead of the 2023/24 international campaign.
Edwards served as assistant to Frank Lampard during his time at Goodison Park, and also worked as a coach with the Three Lions' under-20s and under-18s teams in the past.
Balde claim as Everton among Premier League clubs linked
According to BBC Sport's Mike Minay, Everton are interested in signing Troyes forward Mama Balde.
He claims that the Blues, Burnley and Sheffield United are in the race and a potential deal would be around £6.8m.
Ten Hag addresses Maguire's future
Just like Sean Dyche, Manchester United sat down in front of the press today ahead of his club's next Premier League match against Tottenham.
He was quizzed about Harry Maguire's future. The defender was first removed as club captain this summer before being linked with numerous top-flight sides, including Everton. He ended up almost making the switch to West Ham although the proposed £30m deal collapsed over personal terms.
Whether he will stay at Old Trafford or move elsehwhere is currently unknown, though via the ECHO's sister site the Manchester Evening News, ten Hag sent a blunt message to his player today.
"It's up to him. He knows what I expect from him.
"I've been here for one year now and you know what I expect from a centre half. And he can do it, I've told you many times before he has the ability to do it so now he has to show it.
"It is then about character, to be convinced to play that role, he has all the abilities to do it and it is up to him when the time [opportunity] is there.
"Harry is a player for us, I am happy he is here, we need a good squad, we have four good centre halves. We have a very heavy load to cover so I am happy Harry Maguire is here."
It very much sounds like the United boss wants Maguire to stick around, but how about you, Blues - would you like to see Everton make a late move for the 30-year-old?
Gnonto latest as claim made in Germany
Everton's pursuit of Wilfried Gnonto has been well-documented this summer, with player currently missing from Leeds action after refusal to play amid strong interest from Goodison Park.
However over in Germany BILD are now claiming that the Italian would be ready to turn down the Blues in favour of a move to the Bundesliga with SC Freiburg. BILD previously linked the club with Gnonto back at the start of June.
Sean Dyche's pre-Aston Villa press conference
Sean Dyche addressed the media earlier this afternoon ahead of the Everton's first away match of the season against Aston Villa.
The Blues boss touched on a range of topics such as injury updates for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Arnaut Danjuma and Vitalii Mykolenko, Che Adams transfer rumours and abuse directed towards Neal Maupay.
Catch up with everything Dyche had to say HERE.
Southampton 'want £15m for Adams'
Everton have reportedly been told that Southampton want £15million for striker Che Adams.
The ECHO reported on Friday morning that Everton have bid £12m for the Scotland international after opening talks with the Saints over a transfer earlier this month.
And now according to Football Insider, a bid of £15m would be enough to match Southampton's asking price for the forward, who has scored twice in three games so far this season.
Gnonto 'waiting for Everton to make a new offer'
Leeds United star Wilfried Gnonto is reportedly waiting for Everton to make a new offer for him.
That's according to Italian publication Corriere dello Sport, via Sport Witness, who are reporting that the winger is hoping Everton convince the Whites into a deal for him.
The report goes on to claim that Gnonto wants still wants to leave Elland Road this summer is 'waiting for Everton' to make a new higher offer for him.
Adams transfer latest
Everton’s search for a centre-forward has moved one step forward with the club submitting a bid for Che Adams.
The Southampton striker has long been on the radar of the Blues’ recruitment team. The club’s priority during this summer, as well as over recent transfer windows, has been to strengthen its attack.
In particular that has meant finding competition and cover for Dominic Calvert-Lewin should he continue to suffer the misfortune with injury that has plagued the past two campaigns.
Adams has been viewed as a potential solution for some time, with the ECHO previously reporting how interest in the 27-year-old remained heading into the new season. It is understood Everton have now acted upon that interest and placed a bid in the region of £12m.
Joe Thomas has the full story here.
Borges 'eyed'
Everton are reportedly one of two Premier League clubs interested in Porto winger Goncalo Borges.
That's according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, via Inside Futbol, who is reporting that West Ham United also interested in signing the 22-year-old.
Borges is under contract at Porto until 2027 and played in the Champions League against Club Brugge, Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan last season.
Walcott retires
Former Everton winger Theo Walcott has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 34.
Walcott arrived at Goodison Park in a £20million switch from Arsenal in January 2018. He went on to make 85 appearances for the club, scoring 11 goals, before departing for Southampton in June 2021.
The winger, who started his career at St Mary's, shot to fame in 2006 as a 17-year-old when he was surprisingly selected in Sven Goran Eriksson's England World Cup squad. Walcott appeared 47 times for the Three Lions, scoring eight times, as well as winning three FA Cups and two Community Shields during a 13-year spell with Arsenal.
Walcott was linked with a move to Bournemouth earlier this summer, but he has now announced his retirement from the game, confirming his decision in an emotional social media post released on Friday morning.
Everton 'make Adams bid'
Everton have reportedly revived their bid to sign Che Adams and made an offer worth £12million to Southampton.
The ECHO reported at the start of this month that the Blues had held tentative talks with the Saints over a deal for the Scotland international.
And now, according to the Mail, the Blues have now made a bid for Adams, who wants a move back to the Premier League after Southampton were relegated last season.
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Wilfried Gnonto to Everton transfer will be decided by money, PR and other clubs
The battle lines have been drawn in Everton’s pursuit of Wilfried Gnonto but it could be other clubs that end up playing a decisive role.
Leeds United quite clearly have a problem. Gnonto is training away from the first team and will not be involved in the club’s next game against West Bromwich Albion. He has already missed matches against Shrewsbury Town and Birmingham City and is the subject of an “internal disciplinary matter”, Leeds said last week.
The club remain insistent he is not for sale and hold most of the cards - as the ECHO has reported since early July, Gnonto has no release clause, is in the early stages of a long-term deal and on a wage that is considered affordable even with relegation to the Championship.
Yet having a star within the squad who is open to playing elsewhere is far from ideal and while Leeds have the power to keep hold of him well beyond the end of the summer transfer window, the thoughts of Daniel Farke and others within the hierarchy at Elland Road must also turn to the likelihood of him being able to reintegrate successfully once the year enters September.
Joe Thomas with the latest notebook.
Goncalo Borges wanted
Porto winger Goncalo Borges is said to be wanted by Everton.
Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the Blues face competition from West Ham as they eye a late move in the transfer window for the winger.
He is said to be attracting interest and could be on the move.
Good morning!
Hello and welcome!
We will be bringing you all the latest news and transfer rumours from Goodison Park.
We will also be hearing from Sean Dyche today ahead of their clash with Aston Villa on Sunday.
