Hello and welcome to our dedicated Everton live blog for Saturday, August 19. Only one more sleep until the Blues' first away trip of the season - a tasty clash against Unai Emery's Aston Villa at Villa Park.
The ECHO will keep you up to date with any fresh team news that emerges before then, and most importantly any updates on the transfer front.
Sean Dyche has been linked with interest in plenty of exciting attackers, most often Wilfried Gnonto - who is said to have submitted a written transfer request to Leeds United last night - and Che Adams, with ECHO understanding a £12m bid has been placed for the Southampton man. The latest name to also be linked is Troyes winger Mama Balde.
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That's all for today
We have reached the end of today's Everton live blog. The ECHO will be back from 7am tomorrow morning, providing you the latest news on the Blues.
Dele back in the capital
Dele was today spotted at Tottenham Hotspur's home clash with Manchester United.
It proved to be an evening to savour for the new manager of the Lilywhites, Ange Postecoglou, whose side earned a 2-0 victory over United to claim a first three points of the campaign.
Dele, it appears, was watching the game involving his former club with ex-Spurs team-mate Eric Dier.
Dele X Dier watching the #Tottenham game together! pic.twitter.com/PlobkKjZLM
— The Spurs Express (@TheSpursExpress) August 19, 2023
Adams speaks out on future
Che Adams was asked to clarify his future following Southampton's 2-1 win at Plymouth this afternoon.
The Scottish striker, who is the subject of transfer interest from Everton, told Sky Sports: "I'm just enjoying my game. Scoring goals is the most important thing and hopefully it continues."
Would Adams represent a smart signing this summer, Blues? Let us know in the comments.
Adams admission
Southampton manager Russell Martin has confirmed Everton's bid for Che Adams has been rejected while also admitting he would "love" to keep the striker.
The Blues made their move for Adams on Friday, though will now have to return to negotiations after the Saints' stance has become clear.
Issuing an update on the future of the Scottish striker after his side's 2-1 win at Plymouth today, Martin said: "We’ve had a bid rejected. You can talk as much as you want after that, it’s not my job to talk about it, my job is to work with Che.
“I love him as a player and a person, he’s fantastic and will be huge for us if we can keep him. I don’t know about the talks being ongoing, I’ll talk to Jason Wilcox tonight. I’d love to keep him. If we don’t, we need to replace him. It’s that simple.”
Adams again on target
Che Adams maintained his impressive start to the new season earlier this afternoon, scoring a 94th-minute winner for Southampton at Plymouth.
Adams has found the back of the net three times in the opening three Championship games of the season and is the joint-top scorer in the division.
Everton recently made a bid for the Scottish striker, as reported by the ECHO on Friday. It remains to be seen whether or not the Blues can get a deal over the line.
Everton goalkeeper pushed over by supporter after 96th-minute equalising goal
Everton loanee Harry Tyrer was knocked to the ground by a supporter when starring for Chesterfield earlier this afternoon.
Tyrer, who enjoyed a successful loan spell at Chester FC last season, is with National League promotion favourites Chesterfield for the current campaign and took on another team fancied for promotion this afternoon, Oldham Athletic.
Chesterfield took the lead in the 61st minute of the match though there was late drama when former Tranmere Rovers striker James Norwood fired home a 96th=minute equaliser in front of the travelling Oldham supporters.
This finish sparked chaotic scenes behind the goal, with a large number of Latics fans sprinting onto the pitch to celebrate the goal. One supporter decided to take this one step further by needlessly shoving Tyrer to the ground as he sprinted across the playing surface
For the full story, click here.
U18s defeated
Everton under-18s fell to a second defeat of the season earlier this afternoon, coming out on the wrong side of a five-goal thriller with Wolves.
The Blues took a two-goal lead after 21 minutes, though saw the visitors strike three times - once in the first half and twice in the second - to come away with all three points.
Everton are currently winless after their opening two matches and will be hoping to bounce back when taking on Middlesbrough next weekend.
Demarai Gray latest
Demarai Gray is not expected to be part of the Everton matchday squad against Aston Villa.
Sean Dyche said the winger is continuing to work toward match fitness and is not likely to be ready in time for the club’s first away game of the Premier League season. Gray missed the opening fixture against Fulham and did not play in any of the pre-season friendlies following his return from international duty with Jamaica.
Gray played a key role in Jamarica's progress to the semi-finals of the Gold Cup before defeat to eventual winners Mexico. His continued absence comes as he remains the subject of interest from sides across the Premier League and elsewhere.
The 27-year-old is one of around a dozen players within the Everton first team squad who are at various stages of fitness programmes and recovery work.
Asked by ECHO whether Gray could feature on Sunday, Dyche explained: “He is just coming back, he needs to be fully fit.” The Blues boss was more optimistic about the hopes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who completed his rehabilitation schedule with a run-out in the behind-closed-doors defeat to Manchester United this week. Dyche said the striker is “in the thinking” for the Villa squad.
Everton to finish in the top half?
Here are Betway's latest odds for Sean Dyche to steer the Blues to a top-half Premier League finish:
Betway: Top half finish 2023/24
Crystal Palace 2/1
Brentford 2/1
Fulham 3/1
Everton 4/1
Burnley 4/1
Che Adams starts for Southampton
Che Adams starts for Southampton against Plymouth just days lodged a £12m bid for the forward
Oh when the Saints…
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 19, 2023
Here’s our line-up for today’s game against #PAFC, at Home Park pic.twitter.com/lmo13572ZM
Royal Blue: What Sean Dyche is offering Everton targets in compelling transfer pitch
Everton’s new signings have a golden opportunity to change the fortunes of one of the world’s most famous clubs.
That is the vision Sean Dyche is pitching to prospective additions as he seeks to build a squad that can consolidate its Premier League status on a shoestring budget.
It has proved crucial to the arrivals already secured and there is hope it will continue to inspire others before the end of the summer transfer window.
Asked how he had convinced Jack Harrison, Youssef Chermiti, Arnaut Danjuma and Ashley Young to join a club with limited funds and a recent past of consecutive relegation battles, Dyche explained: “I am telling them to be part of a new look to what we are trying to achieve. That is all. Embrace the past, build a future.”
Last summer, the dominant narrative of Everton’s transfer business was the power of then manager Frank Lampard’s reputation. From Amadou Onana to Neal Maupay, James Tarkowski to Conor Coady, each of those additions told me of the impact conversations with one of the greatest players of the Premier League era had on their deliberations over whether to join a club that had just survived a relegation scare.
Dyche’s profile may not be as renowned as Lampard’s but it has been clear this summer that the former Burnley boss does have a pull factor of his own.
Read the full story, here.
Aston Villa break silence on Ashley Young decision
Speaking prior to this weekend's match against Everton, Villa manager Unai Emery opened up on his decision to let Ashley Young leave the club at the end of his contract.
“Always I respect the players, I think he deserved that," Emery said. "Our decision was after we finished the season because the last match we were fighting to be in Europe. The decision with Young was after it.
“It is always difficult to tell someone if your decision is you are not going to continue with them. Always there is respect and he has continued to play in the Premier League and is keeping up his performances.
“Of course, I don’t want the best for him for Sunday but otherwise I wish the best for him individually and collectively after the match on Sunday.
“The decision was tactical. It is always about how we can continue developing here at Aston Villa.”
Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool squad pay tribute to Michael Jones at Bramley-Moore
Jurgen Klopp and his Liverpool squad have paid tribute to a construction worker who died while working on Everton's new stadium.
The Liverpool FC manager and his team turned out at Bramley Moore Dock this morning to pay their respects to Michael Jones, 26, who tragically lost his life on Monday. The lifelong Everton fan, from Kirkby, had been rushed to Aintree hospital after being injured on the site but sadly died shortly afterwards.
Photos taken by the ECHO this morning show Jurgen Klopp laying a wreath of flowers at the site with a tribute that reads: "Condolences from everyone at Liverpool Football Club. YNWA."
In a video, Jurgen can be seen holding a black cap in his hand as he stands back to look at the flowers that have been left. The team also held a minute's silence in Michael's memory.
On Monday, Everton took to social media to express their sadness at Michael's passing, saying: "The loss of Michael Jones, a lifelong Evertonian who followed the Blues home and away, has left us all devastated.
"The thoughts of everyone at Everton remain with Michael's family, friends and colleagues. We will now be working with Michael's family on an appropriate and lasting tribute. Michael Jones, forever in our hearts."
Blues eyeing up Mama Balde
Everton add more firepower to their ranks this summer? According to BBC Radio Manchester's Mike Minay, they could be!
Taking to Twitter on Friday, Minay said: "Burnley, Sheffield United and Everton are interested in signing Mama Balde from Troyes. The Guinea-Bissau winger scored 14 goals last season in Ligue 1 including a double against PSG.
"It’s expected a deal could be worth around €8m."
Links with Balde come after last weekend's frustration in the final third against Fulham.
Che Adams transfer latest after Everton bid as striker search takes new twist
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.
Everton correspondent Joe Thomas has the latest, here.
Wilfried Gnonto round-up following transfer request claims
One of the most interesting pieces of news to emerge on Friday evening were claims surrounding Everton-linked winger Wilfried Gnonto.
The 19-year-old has been subject to multiple Blues offers throughout the summer, the ECHO understands. However the Leeds United hierarchy maintain their 'not for sale' stance whilst exiling the player.
All that being said, the situation appears to have reached boiling as David Ornstein was first to report that Gnonto filed an official written transfer request asking to depart the Yorkshire club.
If true, will Everton get their man before the window shuts?
Good morning, Blues!
Good morning and welcome to our Everton FC live blog.
Only one more sleep until the Blues are back in Premier League action! Can Sean Dyche's men bounce back from last time out with their first win of the season?
