A round-up of the latest Everton news as Sean Dyche is dealt a blow over his hopes to sign Jack Harrison permanently and Ben Godfrey learns the ‘worst thing’ he has done.
Everton star Jack Harrison shared a heart-warming moment at Burnley
Toffees attacker Harrison shared a heart-warming moment with his mum when Everton beat Burnley 2-0 on Saturday. Goals by Amadou Onana (19’) and former Clarets favourite Michael Keane (25’) gave Dyche the win on his maiden return to Turf Moor as the opposing manager.
Harrison started the Premier League match for the 27-year-old’s 11th appearance so far this term. It was also his 10th top-flight start since moving to Goodison Park on loan from Leeds United in August. The winger has so far given Dyche one goal and three assists in royal blue.
But it was a moment after the match that caught the eye as Harrison embraced his mum in the away end at Turf Moor. His mum, Debbie, made the trip to Burnley and Harrison further endeared himself to the Everton faithful by giving his shirt to a young Blues fan in the stand.
Read more about Harrison’s heart-warming moment with his mum at Burnley, here.
Everton face a £30m hurdle for Jack Harrison’s permanent transfer
Blues boss Dyche is keen to see Everton agree a permanent transfer with Leeds for Harrison in 2024. That is according to Leeds Live, which claims the Kettering-born boss is the driving force behind the Toffees’ desire for a full-time move. But they do not have an option to buy.
Harrison moved to Merseyside on loan in the off-season following Leeds’ relegation into the Championship last term. But Everton were unable to secure any purchase conditions as part of the move. So, they will have to launch fresh negotiations to retain the attacker next year.
Recent reports by TEAMtalk have claimed that Leeds would demand as much as £30m for Harrison’s permanent transfer to Everton. The former England Under-21 international has a contract at Elland Road until June 2028. He only extended his stay with the Whites this April.
Read more about Dyche’s interest in Harrison’s permanent transfer to Everton, here.
Michael Ball reveals the ‘worst thing’ Ben Godfrey has done at Everton
Michael Ball believes Godfrey performing as a makeshift left-back earlier on in his career for Everton is the ‘worst thing’ that the defender has done at Goodison Park. The 25-year-old is naturally a centre-half but has often stood in as a left and a right-back since joining the club.
Around half of Godfrey’s 80 appearances with Everton in all competitions since arriving from Norwich City in October 2020 have arrived as a full-back. But Ball now believes his versatility has come at a cost as Godfrey has failed to lock down one set position in the Everton squad.
“Godfrey is a player I have often felt sorry for,” Ball told the Liverpool Echo. “It feels like the worst thing he did was perform well at left-back a few years ago. As well as suffering a really bad injury, he has probably been too versatile for his own good.”
Read more about what Ball has had to say about Godfrey and Everton, here.
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