Everton made a January attempt for a Serie-A star.
Everton can hardly be the most daring in the transfer market, considering the extreme financial strain they are now facing.
They can no longer afford to make financially disastrous mistakes, particularly in light of the fact that the Premier League is already attempting to impose a historic penalty for their past breaches.
Having said that, Kevin Thelwell’s shrewd maneuvers did provide him some leeway in the summer, and he will undoubtedly be looking to repeat that success in important positions come January.
Planning for the upcoming transfer window appears to have started early for the former Sporting Director of Wolverhampton Wanderers, as TEAMtalk has reported one potential target.
They mention that the Toffees are one of three Premier League teams vying for Juventus’ 20-year-old trickster Samuel Iling-Junior, with all parties “primed to make an offer.”
Given that Everton expressed interest in signing him in the summer and received a quote for a fee of €25 million (£22 million), there is hope that they can work out a lower price for his services.
especially because they are able to provide him the game time he supposedly longs for and have a significant advantage over their rivals.
The left winger, who began his junior career with Chelsea before trading Cobham for Turin, has made 22 professional appearances for the Old Lady and has impressed with his youthful energy.
The England U21 international has been one of the few bright spots in Juventus’ storied history during one of its darkest periods, and both the coaching staff and the supporters have benefited from his cunning and adaptability.
If Sean Dyche were to lure him back to England, he would be eager to mold the pliable youth into his ideal self, developing him into a dedicated force capable of unseating Dwight McNeil or Jack Harrison, or even turning him into a full-back for good.
Iling-Junior has only one goal and three assists for the first team, so it could seem odd to remove him from their roster for that kind of money. However, it’s important to remember that Dejan Kulusevski would only contribute seven goals to Serie-A in the final full year before joining Tottenham Hotspur.
In just six months of Premier League play, he went on to score five goals and provide eight assists.
According to FBref, the £10k-per-week star really ranks in the top 5% for non-penalty goals per 90, the top 13% for successful take-ons per 90, and the top 10% for tackles per 90 when compared to other full-backs in Europe.
If Thelwell is able to lower the price, Dyche will have the necessary traits to work with, then this would be a wise option.
