Everton in the race to sign club’s vice-captain who is going to be ‘special’

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Despite their shocking urgency in the transfer market, it does feel like this fine start to the summer must eventually come to an end for Everton.

After all, having been so careful to make steps towards a more sustainable future, Kevin Thelwell will be wary of undoing all his hard work with just a few months of misguided transfers.

That being said, if they are to shop in the right markets, opting to sign young, promising players with sell-on value, the risks involved are greatly reduced.

So, with Everton’s interest in Jaden Philogene well-documented, perhaps there might be another Championship star on their radar too.

Everton remain interested in Jacob Greaves transfer

That is at least the thinking of TEAMtalk, who note the Toffees’ continued interest in another Hull City player, Jacob Greaves.

The central defender has been linked with a move to Merseyside for some time now, seen as a natural successor to Jarrad Branthwaite.

But with Manchester United’s interest having cooled, it seems Sean Dyche still wants to bolster his backline regardless of whether he loses his prized asset or not.

However, he will face stiff Premier League competition, and will have to overcome one club who are reportedly leading the race. The report reads: ‘Ipswich Town are leading several Premier League rivals including Everton and West Ham United in the race for highly-rated Hull City star Jacob Greaves, TEAMtalk can exclusively reveal.’

Jacob Greaves has an exceedingly bright future

It is not a controversial statement to claim that Greaves’ future is exceedingly bright.

And whether he decides to realise his potential at Hull City, Ipswich Town, Everton or somewhere else entirely, there is a quiet resignation that this defender is destined to do great things.

Being English and left-footed instantly makes him a unique profile, and boasting a turn of pace to go with his 6 foot 4 frame explains where the Branthwaite comparisons come from.

However, playing under Liam Rosenior last season, he has been developed in a mould very different to defenders at Everton.

Taught to be calm and patient in the build-up, Dyche instead favours a more direct route, insisting on his centre-backs to float accurate long balls for the striker to contest.

However, even if Greaves maintained an 89% pass accuracy in the Championship last season, he also mixed in 2.3 long balls per game, more than Branthwaite averaged in the Premier League.

He would combine that with a solidity that helped Hull City to concede 60 goals, the tenth-least in the division, and justifying the claims of his former boss, Grant McCann, who claimed: ‘The kid is going to be special, it’s as simple as that.’

Hopefully, should Everton intensify their efforts, Greaves does choose to realise his lofty potential at the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium.