Deal Close: Everton set to seal signing of TOP CLASS midfielder who has been compared to Patrick Vierra and he is set to bring stability and leadership to Everton

Everton have made a loan approach to sign Chelsea’s young midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu, according to a report from France. Ugochukwu, 20, has been compared to Patrick Vieira and has “world-class potential”. The Blues are planning to loan him out, and Everton are one of three English clubs interested in signing him.

Ugochukwu joined Chelsea from Rennes last summer for a fee of £23.2million and made 12 Premier League appearances last season. He also featured three times in the Carabao Cup and has been capped by France at Under-21 level.

The report from Footmercato claims that Ugochukwu is keen on staying in the Premier League amid interest from overseas clubs. This could be a boost for Everton, who are looking to strengthen their midfield options.

Ugochukwu has been praised for his potential, with L’Equipe reporting that Arsenal were keen on him in 2022 and viewed him as a “future Patrick Vieira”. Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig also made comparisons between Ugochukwu and Vieira, saying his potential was “world-class” and rating it 10 out of 10.

Everton have been busy on the transfer front in recent weeks, signing Iliman Ndiaye from Marseille and Tim Iroegbunam from Aston Villa. They have also sold Ben Godfrey and Lewis Dobbin to Atalanta and Aston Villa respectively, while Amadou Onana is reportedly closing in on a move to Villa Park.

With PSR concerns now behind them, Everton can focus on making more signings, and Ugochukwu could be a great addition to their squad. However, they will face competition from other clubs, and it remains to be seen whether they can secure a loan deal for the young midfielder.