Everton is closing in on the signing of Tim Iroegbunam from Aston Villa, according to Football Insider. The Toffees have agreed a £10m deal for the talented midfielder, who is set to swap the Midlands for Merseyside in search of more game time.Iroegbunam, 20, has made just nine league appearances for Villa this season, but has impressed with his performances, registering a 93% pass completion rate and winning 71% of the tackles contested. The young Englishman has been hailed as a “sensational” talent by a Villa source, and Everton manager Sean Dyche believes he has the potential to follow in the footsteps of Idrissa Gueye, who also joined the Toffees from Villa in 2016.Gueye, now 34, has been an excellent servant for Everton, making 171 appearances and scoring eight goals, including one against Nottingham Forest last season that started the club’s magnificent end-of-season run.
He was sold to PSG in 2019 for £30m, but returned to Goodison Park on a minimal fee and has continued to impress.Iroegbunam’s stats in the Premier League this season have been impressive, with a 93% pass accuracy, 60% dribbles completed, 70% tackles won, and 42% duels won. He has also shown his ability to play in various positions, including defensive midfield, central midfield, and attacking midfield.
The signing of Iroegbunam would be a coup for Everton, who are looking to strengthen their midfield options ahead of next season. The Toffees have been plagued with financial setbacks in recent years, including two separate breaches of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability (PSR) rules for the 2022/23 season.As a result, Everton are facing a battle to raise funds to prevent a points deduction next season, but the signing of Iroegbunam would be a statement of intent from the club. The young midfielder has the potential to partner Idrissa Gueye in the heart of Everton’s midfield, and his signing would be a shrewd piece of business from Dyche and his team.In other Everton news, the Toffees have been linked with a move for Roma striker Edoardo Bove, according to Sky journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Bove, 21, has impressed in Serie A this season, scoring seven goals and providing three assists in 25 appearances.Everton have also been linked with a move for Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus, according to the Daily Mail. Jesus, 25, has impressed in the Premier League this season, scoring 11 goals and providing seven assists in 26 appearances.The Toffees are looking to strengthen their attack ahead of next season, and the signing of Jesus or Bove would be a significant coup for the club. However, Everton’s financial situation means that any deal would need to be done on a shoestring budget, with the club facing a battle to raise funds to prevent a points deduction next season.
Overall, the signing of Tim Iroegbunam would be a shrewd piece of business from Everton, and the young midfielder has the potential to follow in the footsteps of Idrissa Gueye at Goodison Park. With the Toffees facing a battle to raise funds to prevent a points deduction next season, the signing of Iroegbunam would be a statement of intent from the club, and a sign that they are looking to strengthen their midfield options ahead of next season.