Chelsea player hands Everton a £34m transfer blow

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Everton are looking to add to their defensive options this summer.

Regardless of what happens with Jarrad Branthwaite, the Toffees are keen to really add to their depth and quality at the back.

David Moyes has returned to Merseyside and he has inherited one of the Premier League’s best defences.

However, there is going to be some change over the summer at Everton.

Among with a number of other players, Michael Keane is set to leave Everton at the end of the term when his contract expires.

Although Keane may not be a regular in the starting XI, it was seen on the weekend he is the next man up when either Branthwaite of James Tarkowski goes down.

TBR Football’s Chief Correspondent Graeme Bailey has informed Everton News of one defender who the Toffees have firmly on their radar.

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Everton’s stance on Feyenoord defender David Hancko

Everton News understands Branthwaite is not expected to leave Everton this summer despite the interest from across the Premier League.

And Everton sources have claimed David Hancko is a defender who the Toffees are looking to sign this summer.

However, Everton are not the frontrunners in this race.

Juventus are leading in the bid to land the Feyenoord centre-back, with Renato Veiga set to return to Chelsea from his loan in Turin.

Hancko is valued by Feyenoord in the region of £34m this summer and they are open to selling him.

But the Blues are facing some serious competition for the Slovakia international with Atletico Madrid also on the scene.

Everton are appointing Nick Hammond to oversee transfers and a new defender is going to be one of the first on his agenda.

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Everton could use Jake O’Brien as a centre-back

Since Dyche departed, Jake O’Brien has flourished under Moyes in his new position at right-back.

An interesting dilemma now awaits Moyes ahead of the game on Saturday, with Tarkowski set to miss some time through injury.

Moyes has said O’Brien will return to centre-back in time, but now feels like a big opportunity for him to establish himself in his natural role.

If O’Brien is to do so, it will be interesting to see how the focus may shift to the need for a new right-back.

Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman are both set to leave Everton at the end of the season with their deals also expiring.