Everton have already shown their hand to kickstart this summer transfer window, with a number of targets already revealed.
Sean Dyche’s interest in Kalvin Philips was unearthed earlier today, and their continued efforts to return Jack Harrison to Goodison Park were evident even before the Premier League season was up.
However, this latest report actually suggests that Kevin Thelwell could seek to enter talks with Leeds United, where the 27-year-old winger has now returned to after his loan spell, but instead come back with two players.
All signs are pointing towards this being a carbon copy of last summer. Let’s hope they can push through more deals over the line this time though.
Everton looking to reignite interest in Wilfried Gnonto
The latest on this pursuit comes courtesy of GOAL, who do actually focus their report on Everton’s interest in Harrison.
However, it is impossible to ignore their reference to a certain £20k-a-week speedster which comes just after, as they write: ‘Everton could also try and tempt Wilfried Gnonto away from Elland Road this summer, having made an approach for the wide player last summer. A lot will depend on each clubs’ finances, though.’
This comes a year after Gnonto handed in a transfer request in order to force a move to Everton through.
Now, after failing to win promotion back into the Premier League, that feeling will likely have intensified.
Sean Dyche desperately needs two wingers
Of all the positions in most need of a revamp, out wide is arguably of the highest importance.
After all, with Harrison and Arnaut Danjuma both set to depart after their loan spells, that leaves just Dwight McNeil and the unproven Lewis Dobbin as their only two options in that role.
Thelwell and Dyche need to get to work on rectifying this, and they could achieve that goal simply by doing what they failed to do last summer and snagging both Harrison and Gnonto from Elland Road.
In a saga that dominated last year’s window, the Italian pushed and pushed to move to Merseyside, but was denied an exit at every turn.
Eventually sticking around, his English teammate was not so desired, and he would go on to become a mainstay for the Toffees.
But to welcome them both would instantly solve an outstanding issue for Dyche, and allow him to move onto other areas such as full-back and central midfield.
It marks intelligent business from Everton, and hopefully Leeds United’s failed play-off final bid will aid them in their renewed double swoop.