Everton confirmed their first transfer of the summer yesterday, welcoming Tim Iroegbunam from Aston Villa on a three-year contract.
The 20-year-old was part of an intelligent switcharound, which also will see Lewis Dobbin depart for Birmingham in the imminent future.
Seeking to bolster particular areas of weakness in each other’s teams whilst also offsetting PSR pressure, it seems like Kevin Thelwell has found one loophole to start the summer off strong.
However, he will have grand ambitions of adding a few more star assets to Sean Dyche’s squad, whilst also retaining the bulk of the players who have stood out in the Premier League.
Fortunately, it seems the director of football knows exactly what to say when it comes to sweet-talking players.
Tim Iroegbunam reveals what Kevin Thelwell said to him
After all, Iroegbunam was one such example of a player wholly convinced by the club and its long-term project, despite there not really being much to brag about.
Realistically, Everton are at best a mid-table outfit, and there is little chance of that status changing in the near future.
They lack the financial firepower to make huge strides, and are seemingly set to be forever hamstrung by PSR. Last season even saw them handed two points deductions at different times in the campaign, but their survival regardless remains a bonus.
The young midfielder would be joining a team willing to fight for the club, and with Dan Friedkin taking over Everton too, perhaps the fiscal side of the Toffees might be due a revamp soon too.
These are all things Thelwell likely said to Iroegbunam to convince him, and the Aston Villa academy graduate has now revealed a few of the other main points that tempted him to move.
He told Everton’s official YouTube: ‘Obviously I had a chat with Kevin [Thelwell] whilst I was out there, I had a Zoom call with him and he just went through the club, the club’s history, where they see me playing and just the future and how big the club is really.
‘It made me feel very excited because honestly there’s big things coming especially with the new stadium, they showed me all of that. It looks unreal. So yeah, honestly, I just can’t wait.’
Everton already have their Amadou Onana replacement
Standing at just over 6 feet, but boasting impressively quick feet and a powerful driving presence in possession, Iroegbunam already has the foundation to be a replacement for Amadou Onana.
The Belgian has impressed ever since joining Everton in 2022, but of late Dyche’s style has seen his outstanding qualities somewhat hidden.
Such a direct philosophy often sees the midfield bypassed, and that has seen his passing range and ability in possession limited. He is now solely a ball-winning midfielder, and therefore it is no surprise that Idrissa Gana Gueye, who thrives in that simpler role, usurped him at the end of last season.
For a better, more progressive side, the 22-year-old would likely thrive.
And given Arsenal want Amadou Onana, we could soon be set to see that first-hand.
However, Thelwell and Everton have finally made the intelligent choice to plan for such an eventuality, and such a strong yet technically proficient youngster in Iroegbunam seems poised to fill any vacancies that might be left this summer.