Everton have had many instances where they’ve come close to signing future world class footballers.
In 2023, Everton were in talks to sign Adam Wharton from Blackburn Rovers, with Tom Cannon mooted to go the other way in a swap deal.
The Toffees also explored a deal to sign Alexander Isak for just £14m in 2016, and they came close to signing now Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia only a few years ago.
Erling Haaland was even rejected after going on trial at Finch Farm, so they’ve made some real transfer blunders over the years.
Now, an 11-time Premier League winner has just revealed that he came close to joining Everton.
Paul Scholes says he almost joined Everton
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football YouTube channel, former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes revealed he was close to signing for Everton when David Moyes was the manager.
“Yeah, I actually spoke to Phil Neville about playing for Everton, the chance of playing for Everton if the manager (Alex Ferguson) didn’t want me,” Scholes admitted.
“They were the only two people I mentioned to were Gary (Neville) and Phil and they thought it was the right thing.
“Who was the manager at Everton at the time? Was it Moyes?” Scholes was asked.
“Yeah. Yeah, Phil was there with David Moyes. So I went to see the manager (Sir Alex Ferguson) early morning said, ‘yeah, brilliant’, you know, he rang David Gill within 2 minutes and said, ‘let’s do it.'”
David Moyes signed several players from Manchester United
Everton had a really good relationship with Manchester United back in the day, and Moyes did several deals with Sir Alex.
The Toffees signed Tim Howard, Phil Neville, Louis Saha, Darron Gibson and Tom Cleverley directly from United, to name only a handful.
Scholes almost joined that list, but ultimately, he stayed at Old Trafford until he retired at the age of 38 in 2013.
Moyes now wants to sign Joshua Zirkzee, although there is competition from West Ham United and multiple Serie A clubs for his signature ahead of the January transfer window.
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