Everton are looking to strengthen at right-back, but bringing in either Ben White or Djed Spence would not be without risk.
Everton have burst into life over the past week or so, with three signings now confirmed.
Hayden Hackney came in from Middlesbrough, and he has been followed by Tyrique George and Merlin Rohl, who both signed for the club permanently on Monday.
How excited are you by Everton’s signing of Tyrique George on a permanent deal? Can he really kick on now after his loan?
The deal is now official, with the Toffees paying an initial £18m, with £6m to come in potential add-ons… ✅
Everton negotiated a fresh deal with Chelsea for George’s transfer, and Rohl was signed via his obligation to buy.
Evertonians will now hope to see right-back become the next focus – and both Ben White and Djed Spence have been linked with moves.
However, there is one thing about both players that might force Everton to think twice.
Why Ben White and Djed Spence may not be right for Everton
Ben White has had a good spell at Arsenal since signing from Brighton in 2021.
Brought in as a centre-back, he has largely played at right-back for the Gunners, and his conversion has been fairly successful.
But Everton may want to think twice, as White was said to have fallen out with Steve Holland, which resulted in a self-imposed international exile.
The Telegraph claimed in 2024 that Holland had made a remark about White’s interest in football, which he apparently did not take well. The fallout, which happened in front of teammates at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, resulted in White asking to leave England’s base in Doha.
After watching him for England vs Croatia, I’m convinced he’d be the perfect right-back signing this summer! 🔥
Gareth Southgate always denied the rumours about White and Holland, but the player himself has never come out and denied them.
Spence has also faced scrutiny about his attitude and professionalism.
When he was at Middlesbrough, Neil Warnock criticised the full-back, saying (via talkSPORT): “It’s not right to go into everything, but his attitude wasn’t right for me.
“Some things off the field happen which I didn’t enjoy and I spoke to him about it a couple of times. I don’t think he was for changing. I think he thought I was probably just barking up the tree.”
He also had a strained relationship with Antonio Conte at Tottenham Hotspur.
The Italian stated Spence was not a signing he pushed to make and was rather a club investment, and Spence later claimed Conte had shattered his confidence (via Goal).
Right-back has been a problem position for Everton for a while now, and the club need to ensure they get their recruitment right.
It won’t just be about quality, it’ll be about bringing in the right kind of character, with David Moyes not one to stand for nonsense.
Everton had the ultimate professional at right-back for many years with Seamus Coleman, and the club should certainly be looking to sign someone with the potential to replicate the Irishman.
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