How Amadou Onana may have just complicated Everton transfer plan

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Everton are thought to be keen to sign another midfielder after Hayden Hackney.

The Toffees delighted fans by landing the 24-year-old last week, beating off several other clubs.

Hackney, last term’s Championship Player of the Season, has joined for an initial £16.5 million, with potential add-ons taking the deal to about £25 million in total.

Now Hackney is confirmed, who should Everton be bringing in next? 💰

Time to take our foot off the brake pedal in the market…

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But with uncertainty over the futures of Idrissa Gana Gueye, Tim Iroegbunam and Charly Alcaraz, it seems Everton may not stop at Hackney.

Arthur Atta has a player Everton have looked at in recent weeks, and it was reported he would be open to a Premier League move.

But this move could now be very difficult to pull off – thanks to former midfielder Amadou Onana.

Aston Villa make Arthur Atta move after Amadou Onana injury

There were some grim scenes at the World Cup during the USA’s game with Belgium.

Midfielder Amadou Onana innocuously challenged Christian Pulisic and fell awkwardly.

It transpired that he tore his ACL, and he is now set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The Athletic have reported that Villa were not looking to recruitment in that position, but will now have to reassess the situation.

And it seems they are already acting to address the situation.

Journalist Marco Conteiro has reported that Villa have now made ‘a strong move’ for Arthur Atta, which potentially complicates things for Everton.

This could now force the Toffees to look at alternative targets.

Mandela Keita is another midfielder Everton have looked at and in light of Villa going after Atta, the Belgian might just become the centre of the Toffees’ focus.

Keita did actually beat Atta in several metrics last season in Serie A, including passing accuracy, take-on success and ground duel success (via Squawka).

Atta was more productive in an attacking sense though, creating more chances, and registering eight goal contributions to Keita’s two.

With Everton having signed Hackney, Keita may actually make more sense as a signing than Atta anyway, as the more defensive-minded of the two.