Although Everton’s summer has been a busy one, laden with confirmed signings, shrewd sales and unrelenting links, they are not alone in seeking to bring about revolution.
After all, with Dan Friedkin’s Everton takeover still rumbling on, elsewhere at Manchester United, theirs is complete.
Jim Ratcliffe has funnelled huge money into the club already to put a stable and strong structure in place regarding the higher-up staff, and they are now working towards adding the necessary talent to strengthen on the pitch as well.
Funnily enough, one of their marquee acquisitions is actually due to be a player who was once on trial with Everton.
Joshua Zirkzee make first Jim Ratcliffe signing
The Red Devils have been linked with a whole host of players this summer, with one actually hailing from Goodison Park.
Yes, Manchester United’s efforts to sign Jarrad Branthwaite have been laughed out of Goodison Park thus far, as two pitiful bids have come and gone, both instantly rejected.
The Toffees are standing firm on their £75m price tag, and so Erik ten Hag has been forced to look elsewhere.
Matthijs de Ligt is the new frontrunner to spearhead their new-look backline, but now youngster Leny Yoro could join him too from LOSC Lille.
And, with one current Everton player on their radar, the former Everton trialist has now seemingly put pen to paper.
Fabrizio Romano has tweeted: ‘EXCLUSIVE: Joshua Zirkzee to Manchester United, here we go! Man United will NOT trigger the clause but pay slightly above €40m (£35m) with better payment terms, in three years. Zirkzee signs until June 2029 with option for further season.’
Joshua Zirkzee was once on trial at Everton
It seems strange to think that Zirkzee once played for Everton, but he is not alone in players who went on to star elsewhere after nearly moving to Merseyside.
After all, Everton nearly signed Erling Haaland many years ago, and David Moyes wanted Eden Hazard during his tenure in charge too.
The Dutch marksman is not quite on this level, but recording 16 goal contributions in the Serie A last season marks an impressive return.
He once told Voetbal International about his 2017 trial, noting: ‘Everton was a serious option for me.
‘Ronald Koeman was coach, Romelu Lukaku left for Manchester United that summer and I got the feeling from Everton that there was a good chance I could really become something there.
‘They even offered me a contract whilst I was on trial.’
Unfortunately, this would not come to fruition, and subsequent spells at Bayern Munich, Anderlecht on loan and then Bologna have now brought him to Old Trafford.
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