Everton find Maxime Esteve alternative who ‘looks like Rio Ferdinand’ in major scouting mission

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Everton are seemingly ready for a blockbuster summer as David Moyes gets ready to get the checkbook out.

Moyes has galvanised the club in just three months, and now he’s hoping to make the next step to create a brilliant team.

Everton no doubt need recruitment, as despite the Scotsman guiding them away from safety, many improvements are still needed.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
12	Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace	34	11	12	11	43	47	-4	45
13	EvertonEverton	33	8	14	11	34	40	-6	38

There seems to be exciting plans ahead as Evertonians can dream of the perfect transfer window, as one area being improved is defensively, with Everton scouting Jeremy Opoku.

The scouts behind the scenes seem to be on the ball as another exciting talent has emerged.

Everton find Maxime Esteve alternative after scouting mission

It’s an area certainly needed at the Toffees as Moyes will be looking at the outgoings and raising questions.

Jarrad Branthwaite’s future is up in the air, and Michael Keane looks destined to be leaving the club this summer.

Maxime Esteve emerged as an Everton target, but after Burnley’s promotion to the Premier League, this has been put to bed.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LeedsLeeds	44	27	13	4	89	29	60	94
2	BurnleyBurnley	44	26	16	2	61	15	46	94

No doubt Moyes will still try his luck for the Frenchman, but a new candidate has emerged who Premier League fans might already know well.

According to TEAMtalk, Nottingham Forest defender Andrew Omobamidele has come to the surface as an option.

Esteve will be a difficult signing for Everton; chairman Alan Pace will be very reluctant to sell key players like him.

So instead, Forest defender Omobamidele, who is on loan with French club Strasbourg, has also been scouted by the Toffees.

However, the French side have an option to buy for £6.8m which could deal a blow to Moyes’ plans.

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Everton target Omobamidele has been compared to Rio Ferdinand

The 22-year-old Irishman obviously already has experience in England, as he was a mainstay at Norwich City.

However, Omobamidele made the move to Forest for £11m in search of a step-up, but hence his loan at Strasbourg, it didn’t go to plan for him at the City Ground.

This could open up the opportunity for Moyes, as the defender hasn’t exactly hit the ground running in France since his loan move in January, with just seven games played, but he has looked promising.

Adding to his promise, Omobamidele had serious praise back in 2021, being compared to Rio Ferdinand.

Vinny Perth, a coach who managed Dundalk, told Off the Ball back in 2021. “He is so comfortable on the ball. I hate giving players tags, but he looks like a young Rio Ferdinand.”

“He is so calm on the ball, so assured on the ball, his passing range is excellent.”

With Everton expected to be busy this summer, expect Omobamidele to be a name that comes up much more often.