Everton now facing January transfer setback as asking price for target emerges

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Given the financial troubles Everton have found themselves in, their work in the transfer market has to be shrewd.

The free acquisition of Ashley Young over the summer marked intelligent business, whilst loan deals for Arnaut Danjuma and Jack Harrison bolstered their attacking ranks for a tiny sum.

Were they to spend big, which the £30m they offloaded for Beto certainly was, it always must come in the wake of a major sale to ensure the books remain balanced. As such, Anthony Gordon’s £45m exit in January offered context for that deal, with Richarlison’s £60m sale in 2022 another important one.

And yet, it is unlikely that they will be able to even come close to the latest fee being asked for by Manchester City, who are seeking a huge return to sanction the sale of Kalvin Phillips despite him falling down the pecking order.

With interest having been reported recently from the Toffees, The Mirror are the latest to offer an update, suggesting the Etihad outfit will command a £50m figure for his services.

With the looming financial issues surrounding the club, and a points deduction potentially to be enacted, there is no way that Sean Dyche could stump up that kind of cash for the £150k-per-week enforcer.

How good is Kalvin Phillips?

Were they to have signed Phillips straight from Leeds United, such a fee would be more than fair.

However, as it goes, the 27-year-old has been left festering on the bench for nearly 18 months now, with his physical attributes sure to have waned.

After all, he is yet to start in the Premier League this season, and started just twice last campaign.

Despite that, his presence in Everton’s side would be a welcome one were they to return him to full fitness, as his combative yet classy 2020/21 league campaign was nothing short of sensational. 

Boasting an 85% pass accuracy throughout the season, he would combine his efficiency with 1.2 key passes, 1.6 interceptions and 2.6 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

To place him beside Amadou Onana could mark an ideal partnership for Dyche to form, but for the ludicrous fee City are commanding, it seems a hugely unlikely possibility.