Everton’s outstanding financial restrictions mean that this summer will see Kevin Thelwell desperately scraping around in the market.
He will have to look long and hard to bring in talent to bolster the squad for a cut price, but already he has showcased signs of identifying underrated players and allowing them to develop.
However, now more than ever that is imperative, to ensure the Toffees avoid further PSR backlash after a Premier League season wrought with fiscal disaster.
Fortunately, this latest update details exactly the sort of player that the club should be looking at, with a view to progressing the stars of the future either for first-team success or a big sale.
Everton planning transfer move for James Overy
Writing for his Patreon, journalist Alan Nixon has always sought to detail lesser-known transfer stories relating to unknown youngsters or Championship starlets.
And he has not steered from that niche here, offering another update on the Toffees’ interest in an Australian teenage sensation.
Having revealed Everton’s interest in James Overy back in October, he now writes: ‘Meanwhile United want to win a three club chase for top Australian right-back James Overy ahead of rivals Everton and West Ham.
‘Overy, 16, left Perth Glory when his family came back to England to live in Devon. He is currently playing at Newton Abbot Spurs.
‘However Overy has been to train with United and they want to make him an offer to sign. He has been given VIP treatment and put up in Hotel Football beside Old Trafford.
‘Hammers invited Overy for talks after they saw him in a pre-season friendly against them last year while Everton also plan a move.’
Who is James Overy?
There is little data regarding this 16-year-old, but that is because he is still so new to senior football.
However, to already have emerged into the first team at such a tender age is indicative of his sparkling future at either winger or full-back.
The Perth Glory gem even earned adulation from the former caretaker manager of the club, Kenny Lowe, for one particularly stellar performance back in 2023: ‘The right-back was 15 – and he’s a winger. He’s never played right back in his life. Poor lad. He won’t sleep tonight – and he was brilliant.’
To have now been on trial with both Everton and West Ham United, and with Manchester United the latest to be sniffing around, there is normally no smoke without fire.
There is a reason why he is so sought-after, and for Sean Dyche’s side to win the race could prove a huge success to boost the long-term ambitions of the club.