Everton will be hoping for a drama-free Premier League season after suffering a barrage of point deductions previous season. Despite these persistent anxieties, Sean Dyche’s team managed to keep their heads above water, ending 14 points above the drop zone in the last game of the season, with the ex-Burnley manager in charge.
The resilient Toffees did, however, only reach the back of the goal 40 times over the 38-game league season, making adding extra firepower to the ranks a priority in the transfer window. Everton are seeking at a Championship star. According to a recent Daily Mail report, Everton are considering a summer approach for explosive Championship player Jaden Philogene-Bidace to boost enthusiasm at Goodison Park.
The Hull City winger bamboozled second-tier defences on a regular basis last season for the Tigers, but despite his dazzling feet earning him many plaudits, his employers couldn’t quite get themselves into the promotion reckoning, making a move to the top flight an appealing option for the 5 foot 11 maverick now. Previously at the level of Aston Villa, who must regret allowing him to transfer to Hull in retrospect, Everton may see a move for Philogene as the next best thing after previously eyeing Yankuba Minteh.
With Brighton and Hove Albion apparently agreeing on a £30 million deal for the Newcastle United player, the Toffees might make up for the failed signing by pursuing the entertaining Hull attacker instead. What Philogene can give Everton Unlike Minteh, who prefers to play down the right channel, Philogene is more at ease on the left wing, which is likely to be a problem for the Merseysiders next season.
Everton only have Dwight McNeil to call on in this position following Lewis Dobbin’s stunning departure to Aston Villa, with the Toffees already fortifying down the right wing this window with the return of Jack Harrison on another season-long loan from Leeds United. Although Minteh outperforms Philogene in many of their comparative attacking statistics over the last year, looking at the table above, it could be argued that the current Hull winger has shown he can be exciting and daring in a far more difficult division in the Championship, as opposed to his counterpart’s exploits on loan in the Eredivisie with Feyenoord.
Philogene’s impressive 12-goal return for the Tigers actually outperforms Minteh’s 11 for the season as a whole, with the swift 22-year-old also providing a better bang for Everton’s buck, as Dyche & Co are apparently considering a £16 million move for Philogene versus Minteh’s £30 million value. Even if former Hull manager Liam Rosenior described him as a “ridiculous” talent last season, Minteh’s name in Everton circles would soon be forgotten if Philogene’s signature could be secured, but it may not be as easy to do so. Barcelona has recently made an official offer for the much sought-after attacker.
However, the Toffees will remain confident that they can still sign the tricky winger ahead of what they hope to be a much stronger season in the Premier League.
