Everton are currently struggling to agree a fee for Hayden Hackney during talks with Middlesbrough.
Sky Sports believe talks have now stopped between the Toffees and the Championship side after Everton made a derisory opening offer – although the value of this bid was not disclosed.
We presume Everton will return with an improved bid at some point – given how early into the summer we are – although an alternative who was previously of interest to the Toffees has now become available after Wolves opted not to sign Angel Gomes.
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Angel Gomes now available for Everton
The England international was linked with a move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium back in January as Marseille aimed to find a new club for the central midfielder.
It was Wolves who eventually took Gomes – who is close friends with James Garner – on a loan move until the end of the season, but the Championship outfit have now made an announcement revealing that they have opted not to turn his temporary deal into a permanent switch to Molineux.
It means the former Manchester United playmaker is once again on the lookout for a new side, and Everton could offer him the chance to return to England if talks with Middlesbrough over Hackney fail to progress any further.
Everton are said to have had the 25-year-old on the radar for well over a year now.
It was ESPN who claimed back in February 2025 that Everton wanted to sign Gomes to bolster the midfield department, an area which remains quite thin.
Idrissa Gueye could leave in a matter of days as he nears the end of his contract – even if the Senegal international does stay, he turns 37 in November and needs replacing.
With only two years left on his contract at Marseille, Everton could get themselves a bargain in Gomes.
Marseille will not want to let the diminutive midfielder enter the final 12 months of his contract – as his value would reduce significantly – so a deal could be on.
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Wolves, Burnley and West Ham have all lost their Premier League status…
Depending on the financial figures involved, it cannot be ruled out that Everton end up signing both Hackney and Gomes – a potential double deal which not only beefs up the options available to Moyes in central midfield, but would also add two homegrown players to the squad.
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