With money coming in from sales Everton are trying to hijack an exciting West Ham move for a Puskas award contender.
Some West Ham fans may be left scratching their heads to hear Premier League rivals Everton are trying to beat them to a signing.
The Toffees were hit with fines and two points deductions last season due to breaching PSR rules.
Prominent football finance expert Kieran Maguire revealed earlier this month that only Arsenal and Bedford are in better operational health than West Ham in the top flight.
It was no surprise to see financially stricken Everton near the bottom of that particular list.
As a result of the docked points, Everton were involved in another season-long relegation battle.
How Everton are competing with West Ham for transfers
Meanwhile West Ham have designs on challenging the top six again.
New Hammers head coach Julen Lopetegui faces a major rebuild this summer.
And Everton clearly need to wheel and deal to try and improve or at the very least remain competitive.
In fact they’re already doing just that with Ben Goddfrey being sold to Atalanta for £10m.
West Ham have already made two signings and are trying to make at least another six or seven depending on departures.
Lopetegui and technical director have earmarked five non-essential players for sale with the aim of pushing the club’s budget well over £100m.
West Ham want to spend a portion of that on one of the most skilful young stars in the country.
But Everton are trying to hijack an exciting West Ham move for a Puskas award contender.
Everton trying to hijack West Ham move for Puskas contender
It was claimed last week that West Ham want to sign Hull City star Jaden Philogene.
And yesterday Fabrizio Romano revealed the Hammers have entered talks with the attacking wide forward’s representatives about bringing him back to his birthplace, London.
Everton want to keep him in the north, though, it seems.
According to The Daily Mail on Friday evening, Everton have now made a run at Philogene in a bid to beat West Ham to his capture.
And, with money coming in from sales, the Toffees are willing to pay £16m for the ex Villa starlet.
The report states West Ham are still weighing up their opening offer.
Philogene had an impressive average match rating of nearly 7.5/10 last season.
That officially made him the third best player in the second tier behind two other big West Ham targets – Jack Clarke and Crycensio Summerville.
Philogene laid on six assists and scored 12 goals last season for Hull.
One of them was an outrageous solo effort which was deemed worthy of a nomination for the Puskas award – given to the scorer of the best goal in the world for that year.
Philogene nutmegged a defender in the box, chopped back inside and then produced a chipped Rabona finish into the top corner despite the area being packed.
Unfortunately the goal, which you can see in the video below, was denied entry for the Puskas award as it took the slightest of deflections on its way into the net.
West Ham head coach Lopetegui and Steidten will need to act fast if they do want Philogene.
Because it sounds like Sean Dyche very much wants him at Goodison Park next season.