Hello and welcome to our LIVE Everton transfer blog for Friday, August 25.
Stay tuned as we'll be bringing you all the latest on the Blues' search for attacking reinforcements, with talks over a deal for Serie A forward Beto currently ongoing.
Plus all the latest on Everton's search for investment after this week's collapse of a deal with MSP Sports Capital.
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Keep tabs on the latest news, views and Everton FC transfer rumours below.
Mason Holgate joins Southampton
The 26-year-old has joined the Saints on a loan deal until the end of the season
Holgate’s here #SaintsFC is delighted to confirm the loan signing of Mason Holgate:
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 25, 2023
Beto update
This sounds promising, Blues. Fabrizio Romano says Everton have now upped their bid for Beto to €30m.
The transfer journalist has just tweeted: "Everton have submitted new formal bid for Beto after €25m proposal revealed yesterday — now up to €30m.
"Udinese always asked for €35m as value of the release clause but clubs working on add-ons structure now. Talks underway."
FT: Everton U21s 0-4 Brighton & Hove Albion.
Mark O'Mahony nets a brace after Samy Chouchane and Jamie Mullins capitalise on two defensive errors.
Brighton 4-0 Everton
GOAL! It's four for Brighton. Mark O'Mahoney stabs home from a corner.
Brighton 0-2 Everton
GOAL! Mullins makes it two. Another mistake at the back for Everton.
Goal! Everton U21s 0-1 Brighton
GOAL! Chouchane opens the scoring for Brighton.
Jack Barrett gets his clearance wrong, Chouchane takes a touch and fires it past the Everton goalkeeper.
Blues line up Gnonto alternative?
Everton could target Southampton's Kamaldeen Sulemana as an alternative to Wilfried Gnonto, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Romano has said that Sulemana, who joined Southampton in January, "could be a possibility" for the Blues".
Teams news for the Blues
Team news is in. Paul Tait has named two changes from the side that were beaten 3-2 by Wolves last weekend. Luke Butterfield, Isaac Heath and Katia Kouyate return to the starting 11. Matthew Apter moves to the bench alongside Malik Mothersille.
Team news is in.
— Stephen Killen (@_StephenKillen) August 25, 2023
Paul Tait has named two changes from the side that were beaten 3-2 by Wolves last weekend.
Luke Butterfield, Isaac Heath and Katia Kouyate return to the starting 11.
Matthew Apter moves to the bench alongside Malik Mothersille. #EFCU21s pic.twitter.com/mnm56dgSbX
Everton U21s vs Brighton U21s updates to follow
Ste Killen is our man on location at Haig Avenue
Arrived at Haig Avenue tonight. Southport’s managerial search is at the interviews stage but this time around it’s for Everton U21s vs Brighton & Hove Albion. #EFC pic.twitter.com/tz444aOh77
— Stephen Killen (@_StephenKillen) August 25, 2023
Russell Martin lifts the lid on Che Adams' future
Speaking at his press conference on Friday, Sain't boss Martin said: “It will be down to the situation and how Che feels. Ideally he will be in the team tomorrow but if he’s not it will be because the situation has developed a bit.
“We have to be aware that something might happen in the next 24 to 48 hours. Hopefully he is weighing up the contract offer from us despite what’s gone on previously and hopefully, he feels a bit differently now with what we are trying to build.”
PSG open to selling Hugo Ekitike as Everton named
Everton and West Ham have been offered the chance to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Hugo Ekitike, according to a new report.
The 21-year-old forward made the move to the Parc des Princes last summer from, Stade de Remis, although he was limited to just 12 stars under former manager Christophe Galtier.
According to Sky Sports, the Ligue 1 champions are open to selling the forward to the Blues this summer.
Former Everton target on track for Premier League switch
Mohammed Kudus looks set to finally move to the Premier League with Fabrizio Romano claiming that West Ham have agreed a £38m deal to sign the Ajax man.
Kudus was originally linked with a switch to Goodison Park in 2022 and earlier this summer with a move to Brighton.
PSV Eindhoven discussion amid Branthwaite rumours
Speaking on the AD Voetbal podcast, Dutch journalist Sjord Mossou laid out his thoughts on recent rumours linking PSV Eindhoven with a move for Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite, where he spent last season on loan.
Mossou said it is a sign that the defender's suitors are ready to take a 'financial risk' in order to secure their desired target.
"It's not that strange that PSV ends up at Branthwaite, is it?", the journalist respond to the renewed interest. "Wasn't that boy quite reasonable? It makes it remarkable that Everton initially asked too much and PSV is now trying again.
"In general, that applies to what PSV does. They clearly take financial risks, with the opportunities that are there. Branthwaite would fit right in because it was too expensive to begin with."
Tony Bellew makes Romelu Lukaku claim about Everton
Former boxer and Everton supporter Tony Bellew believes the club should re-sign Romelu Lukaku this summer.
Fresh links have emerged tipping the out-of-favour Chelsea striker to join Jose Mourinho at AS Roma, however that hasn't dampened Bellew's desire to see him back in a Blues shirt for the first time since 2017.
The Belgian scored 87 goals in 166 appearances in his previous stint and now the Bomber wants Sean Dyche to be backed to make the signing.
Read the full story HERE.
The Times claim on Everton's pursuit of Gnonto
The Times' latest Everton feature explaining the fallout of MSP Sports Capital's withdrawal from a deal to invest in the club also detailed the current state of play in the Blues' pursuit of Wilfried Gnonto.
They claim how difficult a position the club is in to finalise deals due to their structures and quote Gnonto's as having 'collapsed' due to Leeds United not agreeing to the splitting of payments involved.
Full article here with relevant snippet below:
It is understood, for example, that a move for Leeds United’s £40 million-valued forward Wilfried Gnonto collapsed precisely because the sellers would not accept Everton’s payment schedule.
Everton odds-on favourites to sign Che Adams
As mentioned earlier, Everton remain in talks to finalise a £15m deal with Southampton for the transfer of Che Adams.
The striker has started life back in the Championship well with the Saints, though a move remains on the cards and Goodison Park is his most likely destination, say Gambling Zone. Here are the latest odds:
Gambling Zone: Che Adams to sign for before September 4, 2023
Everton 10/11
Nottingham Forest: 4/1
Crystal Palace: 7/1
Sheffield United: 10/1
Luton 14/1
Jamie Carragher says MSP deal collapse was no surprise as 'unpalatable Everton truth' emerges
Jamie Carragher believes the collapse of the MSP deal was no surprise and that the 'unpalatable' truth about Everton has emerged.
The Blues suffered an investment setback earlier this week and writing in his Telegraph column, the former Liverpool defender-turned-pundit believes that Everton continue to prove him right as being one of the worst-run clubs in the country.
Read the full story HERE.
Nkounkou sell-on clause
According to Sport1's Christopher Michel, Eintracht Frankfurt are still hopeful of completing a deal to sign Niels Nkounkou from Saint-Ettiene.
However the German club are only willing to pay €5-6m, whereas the French club are hoping to secure a €10m sale.
This is a talking point that has been going for a number of weeks now and as a former Everton full-back, with claims made that the Blues could net a tidy bonus as a result of any future sale of Nkounkou.
Everton transfer latest as Che Adams doubts emerge and Mason Holgate set for exit
The ECHO understands Southampton are on course to sign Mason Holgate on loan for the season, but Everton's move to bring Che Adams in the opposite direction has still not been agreed.
Holgate had given the go ahead to Goodison Park officials to organise his exit earlier in the summer and with other Saints targets stalling, they have now made a play for the Blues defender. It would be a straight loan with no option or obligation to buy.
Meanwhile negotiations for Adams drag on with the two clubs coming to an agreement on a £15m deal.
Read the full story HERE.
Alan Myers update on Holgate
Sky Sports' Alan Myers is another to claim that Mason Holgate is on his way to Southampton on loan with a medical due to take place.
The latest word from Italy on Beto
Italian media has also been tracking Everton's interest in Udinese striker Beto.
Reacting to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Tutto Udinese first stated the Blues had 'resumed contact' with their Italian counterparts to organise a deal for the player first linked back in January. This was corroborated by Tutto Mercato Web.
Sky Italia later claimed a first offer of €25m plus €5m in bonuses (£21.4m + £4.2m) however this is short of his €35m release clause which Udinese would consider no less than. This was later confirmed by the ECHO.
Holgate loan
David Ornstein reports that Southampton are on course to sign Mason Holgate on loan from Everton for the 2023/24 campaign.
He claims the 26-year-old is to travel from Merseyside to the South Coast today in order to complete a medical and finalise his move, which would be a straight loan with no obligation to buy afterwards.
Lukaku lifeline
Former Everton striker Romelu Lukaku may have found a lifeline in his career as Chelsea are in talks to send Romelu Lukaku on loan to AS Roma for the upcoming season, say the Telegraph.
The West London have so far struggled to permanently shift the striker they forked out £100m to bring back to Stamford Bridge two years ago and could link up with Jose Mourinho again, the manager that plucked him from Goodison Park as Manchester United boss in 2017 in a deal worth £75m.
Sean Dyche explains Che Adams transfer problem and impact of MSP Everton deal
Sean Dyche made clear the fact that MSP Capital's decision to withdraw from investment talks will not impact his search for a striker in the remaining days of the transfer market.
The Blues remain in talks with Southampton over the prospect of signing Che Adams whilst further reports have linked Udinese's Beto.
Dyche allayed fears that the withdrawal was detrimental to his transfer plans, simply stating that a lot more goes into a sealing a deal than first imagined, with multiple parties having to be appeased in the process.
Read the full story HERE.
Get your 2023/24 Everton home kit!
The Blues will be back at Goodison Park this weekend.
Show your Everton colours, buy the home kit.
Everton release statement on new loan and Farhad Moshiri plan after MSP blow
Everton have claimed that talks are continuing around new investment after a deal with MSP Sports Capital collapsed.
MSP, as first reported by The Athletic, withdrew from talks over taking a minority stake in Everton earlier this week after initially signing an exclusivity agreement back in May. The group were looking to take a 25 percent stake in the club that could have been worth £150million.
Two thirds of that amount would have gone to Everton Stadium Development Company, which is overseeing the construction of the club's new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium, with the rest going to the club.
However, the major stumbling block that saw the deal collapse was seemingly a pre-existing arrangement with a Cheshire-based firm, Rights and Media Funding Limited, who had issues around the structure of the deal and the removal of some of their protection against possible default.
MSP, however, are still proceeding with a £100m loan to the stadium company, although this is now just a straightforward loan and not convertible debt. Everton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri will now continue to explore discussions on new investment.
In a statement sent to the ECHO, an Everton spokesperson said: "The club can confirm that it continues to make good progress on securing the complete stadium financing, and as part of this progress it has secured a loan to support the development costs for our new stadium.
Read the full story, here.
Everton open talks for Beto transfer as release clause price emerges
Everton have opened discussions with Udinese Calcio over a deal for striker Beto Betuncal.
Strengthening Sean Dyche’s attacking options was Everton’s priority heading into this summer's transfer window, and the club have already recruited Youssef Chermiti, Jack Harrison and Arnaut Danjuma in a bid to help solve their struggles in front of goal.
Everton, however, have remained in the market for more experienced forwards and have now opened talks with Udinese over a deal for Beto. But sources in Italy have indicated that the Serie A side will not consider selling the forward unless his €35million (£30m) release clause is met.
The Blues failed in a bid to land the 25-year-old during the January transfer window after majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri told supporters that his club would secure a much-needed striker midway through the window.
