Everton's takeover by 777 Partners is being worked on behind the scenes, the latest claim being that the deal remains on track for completion.
In the transfer market the club are also reportedly targeting a move for Aston Villa midfielder Leander Dendoncker but could face a struggle for his signature in the January transfer window.
Finally Sean Dyche spoke to the press on Thursday ahead of the Blues' upcoming match against Burnley. The boss confirmed a number of injuries including that of Dele, however there was a positive update on the midfielder's progress. He is set to make his return to football on Friday night, playing for the Under-21s against West Brom at Southport.
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Key Events
Today's top stories
We have reached the end of our Friday live blog...
Here is a reminder of our top stories from today.
- Everton confirm new stadium move timetable for the first time
- 777 chief gives Sean Dyche and Kevin Thelwell verdict and explains potential Everton transfer boost
- Burnley 'specifically' ban A4 Premier League protest cards and flags for Everton match
- I watched Lewis Dobbin grow up and Sean Dyche might have a new Everton celebration to deal with
Richy on a roll
Ex-Everton striker Richarlison has maintained his recent impressive form after scoring in a 2-0 win for Tottenham Hotspur this evening.
The Brazilian bagged a brace in a 4-1 victory over Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon and has now scored in consecutive league Premier League matches for the first time since May 2022 - his final two games for Everton.
This result is also good news for the Blues, who can overtake Forest in the table by earning a point tomorrow afternoon.
U21s beaten
Everton under-21s have this evening suffered a 3-1 home defeat to West Brom.
The Blues, who named Andre Gomes in the starting-eleven, took the lead through Martin Sherif but conceded two goals in quick succession soon after going a goal ahead. The Baggies added a third after the interval.
Everton sit 21st out of a possible 26th in the Premier League 2 table after this loss.
The rise of Lewis Dobbin
Being able to perform “on a wet Tuesday night at Stoke” is often cited as the barometer for testing football talents in the English game – especially exotic stars – but while one home-grown Potteries prospect wasn’t deemed powerful enough for his local side, he certainly looked the part on a Sunday afternoon against Chelsea, launching himself in the big time with a spectacular first Premier League goal.
Lewis Dobbin’s primary school St Teresa’s is literally an Asmir Begovic punt down the road from Stoke City’s Clayton Wood training ground but his talents were overlooked by those on his doorstep as the gifted youngster was considered too puny by the club who were managed at the time by Tony Pulis. St Teresa’s headteacher Nathan Price, who taught Dobbin’s class back then, told the ECHO: “Stoke City’s training ground is literally behind the school. We do have a lot of lads who get picked up locally by scouts and end up there.
“When I first started at the school, Lewis was in my first class in Year Three. He was obviously very talented but he was very small at the time."
Chris Beesley has the full story on the rise of Lewis Dobbin.
Have your say on the new stadium
It was this afternoon confirmed Everton will be taking to their new stadium from the start of the 2025/26 season.
As a result, the Blues will have one final full campaign at Goodison Park next year.
Let us know your thoughts on this announcement, below.
Double Burnley blow
Everton will be without Idrissa Gueye and Jarrad Branthwaite for tomorrow's clash with Burnley.
The pair have both racked up five Premier League bookings and will serve a one-match suspension as a result.
Do you think this will impact the Blues' chances of three points? Let us know in the comments section.
Everton stadium move date confirmed
Everton have confirmed for the first time that the first team’s move to the new stadium will take place at the start of the 2025/26 campaign, ensuring next season will be their last at Goodison Park, allowing the club to carry out various test events beforehand at Bramley-Moore Dock.
Shortly after he stepped up to also fill the position of interim chief executive, Everton’s chief stadium officer Colin Chong announced on June 28 this year that the club were confident that the project at Bramley-Moore Dock would be completed “in the final months” of 2024 but that issue raised the question whether they move mid-season or wait. For a long time since then the ECHO understands that the prevailing mood among club chiefs has been to finish one season at Goodison Park and start the next in their new 52,888 capacity home by the Mersey waterfront rather than switch during a campaign.
This has now been confirmed by Chong in his latest blog released on the club’s channels. He writes as follows: “I recently had the pleasure of attending a meeting with our Fan Advisory Board. The meetings are always honest and frank, providing both the fans and the club an opportunity to discuss key matters impacting supporters.
Sutton predicts Everton win vs Burnley
Chris Sutton believes Everton can overcome the blow of having Jarrad Branthwaite suspended by beating Burnley.
Sean Dyche returns to his former club in a 5:30pm kick-off tomorrow with the Blues chasing a fourth consecutive win in the Premier League.
Sutton shared in his column for BBC Sport: “He is going back to his old club with an Everton team that has an identity and is playing well. Jarrad Branthwaite’s suspension is a blow but I still think the Toffees will make it four wins in a row without him.”
Everton interested in Boulaye Dia
Everton are interested in Salernitana striker Boulaye Dia, according to Sport del Sud.
It has been claimed that the Blues have 'knocked on the door' intending to sign the striker during the January transfer window.
The Serie A side are said to be facing cash restraints and need to sell players in order to raise money to operate in next month's market.
Everton have been named as one of the sides to have made contact with the Senegal international's agent. It has been said that his pricetag is in the region of €22m (£18m).
Premier League and Serie A clubs monitor Gnonto
Premier League and Serie A clubs are monitoring Wilfried Gnonto, according to Football Insider.
Who could forget Everton's pursuit of the Leeds United attacker, in the summer?
The 20-year-old was one of the stars from the relegated side that was looking to leave Elland Road in the summer.
This season, he has fallen down the pecking order in Daniel Farke's side with just one start in his last 10.
There is no mention of teams interested in the Italy international within the article, nor are Everton mentioned if their interest persists.
Everton was 'special'
AFC Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi has lauded Everton supporters as incredible.
The Argentinian referred to the Blues final day survival as Abdoulaye Doucoure scored the only goal to keep Sean Dyche's side in the Premier League.
"I don’t think you can compare too much the madness of our fanaticism and everything else but there are some grounds where the fans are nice and the atmosphere is there," he said speaking to Ezzequiel via Sport Witness.
"I liked Anfield, I liked Newcastle, I liked the atmosphere in Leeds. Everton, it was a special date.
"If we beat or drew with them, they would go down and that day, how the people pushed, the truth is it was very strong, incredible."
Everton icons thank two local hospitals
Everton ambassadors Graham Stuart and Ian Snodin have been in two local NHS hospitals in Liverpool thanking staff for their efforts.
In partnership and accompanied by Davanti Tyres, the trophy-winning Everton pair visited Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust and Ormskirk General Hospital with hundreds of mince pies.
The mince pies was funded by Davanti and provided by Jasper's (North West).
"We really appreciate Everton and Davanti Tyres taking the time to visit us and for the mince pies they provided for staff," Chief Operating Officer at the Liverpool Women’s Hospital, Gary Price said.
"It was great to meet and chat with the club’s ambassadors and ex-players and our staff really appreciated the time they spent with us.
"Community engagement is very important to us at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, so it is fantastic to see Everton visiting local hospitals as part of their community engagement work."
Burnley 'specifically' release away support information amid protests
Everton have warned that fans visiting Turf Moor could have flags or A4 cards confiscated by Burnley.
The Blues have released information detailing that the Clarets have "specifically asked" to inform supporters travelling to Lancashire regarding the displays in the away end.
In the Away Day Guide published by the club, it reads: "Travelling Evertonians should be aware that Burnley Football Club have informed us that no flags or A4 sized cards will be allowed inside their stadium.
"Burnley FC have specifically asked us to pass on this information, adding that any flags or A4 cards attempted to be taken into Turf Moor will be confiscated."
It comes after the recent protests and demonstrations against the Premier League following the 10-point deduction. When Manchester United visited Goodison Park, with the game live on Sky Sports, over 30,000 pink cards with the words 'Corrupt' printed on it.
Against Newcastle, the Park End displayed green cards in protest.
777 Partners sporting director breaks Everton silence
777 Partners sporting director Johannes Spors believes Everton will be the missing link in their franchise of clubs.
Spors is the global sporting director for the Miami-based investment firm - who have the likes of Standard Liege and Hertha Berlin in their football club portfolio.
The 41-year-old has attended both wins over Chelsea and Newcastle United with Kevin Thelwell remaining in charge of the day-to-day football operations.
In an interview with The Telegraph, he believes the Blues are the type of club that the private investment company can pick up players from Belgium or Germany when ready.
Here is what he said about Everton:
"Everton will be the missing link in the group and can be the club that gets the players when Liege or Berlin, for example, make them ready," said Spors. "This is something they can really participate in.
"We would not say to Liege or Berlin, you are now feeding Everton. Absolutely not, that would not be correct. But if there is a logical step and somebody is really good in Belgium and there are clubs the size of Everton interested, then, of course, we would do everything we can that this player makes an internal group transfer, over an external move.
"In recent months, I have been to Everton very often and I love the stadium and the supporters, and the environment. I really like what Kevin Thelwell is doing, the way he structured the football organisation. The way he worked with the squad I think is going in an excellent way, together with the decision on Sean Dyche.
"He’s brilliant," Spors said on meeting Sean Dyche. "The whole Finch Farm training ground is great, the people I’ve met are great and to meet Sean Dyche was good. I met him in a longer meeting some time ago and around the games. It’s not only myself, but also Mladen (Sormaz) and some other guys. Sean is doing a really good job, it’s fantastic.
"He said after the Chelsea game ‘this is why I do this job - to help players and see players developing’. Even some weeks ago when he explained what he sees in the players and what he thinks will be possible, this is so visible on the pitch. This is what you want. You want the club to punch above their weight in games and to maximise the outcome from the possibilities you have, and this is currently what you have."
Everton set to be disappointed in Dendoncker pursuit
Unai Emery is ready to block approaches for his Aston Villa players, according to Football Insider.
Everton are said to be in the hunt to sign Leander Dendoncker who has struggled for minutes under the Spaniard.
The Villa boss will be unwilling to 'let anyone leave' next month as the club attempts to compete on multiple fronts, it has been reported.
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Morning, Blues!
Hello and welcome to our Everton FC live blog this Friday morning.
We'll be bringing you all of the latest news and transfer gossip around the Blues as we move towards the weekend.
Read our latest EFC content here:
- Premier League lion replaced by rat as Everton fans take points protest to London HQ
- Everton's January transfer dilemma clear as injury crisis worsens
- Sean Dyche has fixed problem he identified at Everton back in 2021
- Everton moment of the season contender created against Chelsea as Sean Dyche truth emerges
