Everton are narrowing in on their first signing of the summer following a breakthrough in negotiations.
Hayden Hackney looks set to join Everton after an initial £16.5m agreement was reached with Middlesbrough.
However, Everton cannot afford to rest on their laurels just yet as there are still a number of other positions that need addressing in the market.
The main area for the Toffees to improve at is right-back, with Everton eyeing Guela Doue as a dream upgrade in that position.
After watching him for England vs Croatia, I’m convinced he’d be the perfect right-back signing this summer! 🔥
Tuesday saw the Ivory Coast international dumped out of the World Cup, which should be the green light for Everton to really push for his signing.
Guela Doue’s future set to unravel after World Cup exit amid Everton interest
The World Cup has certainly put a spanner in the works for a number of clubs when it comes to preparing for this summer.
Everton’s pre-season plans have been altered because of the World Cup, and it is also affecting the Toffees’ transfer plans.
For example, Doue is a player Everton had earmarked earlier in the year, but any move for the right-back was put on pause for now.
If you were Angus Kinnear who would you be going all out for this summer? 💰
Tuesday evening saw the Ivory Coast eliminated from the World Cup by Norway, which will now put Doue’s future at Strasbourg under serious scrutiny.
There are concerns that Doue will prove too expensive for Everton, with it suggested earlier in the summer that he could cost circa £40m.
Doue had been granted the privacy to focus on the World Cup, but there will be clubs eager to open talks over a potential move.
If Everton are showing ambition this summer then they should be one of them.
Why Guela Doue would be the ultimate right-back signing for Everton
Full-back is a position that Everton have struggled in for a number of years now.
Moyes admitted he wants more from his full-backs in an attacking sense, with Jake O’Brien and Vitalii Mykolenko returning just one Premier League assist each last season.
As Seamus Coleman has now officially departed Merseyside and Nathan Patterson is expected to leave Everton, the Blues need to act in the market.
Everton lack both pace and skill from their full-back options currently at the club, with a lack of attacking creativity evident.
That is something Doue would certainly provide having returned six assists and two goals in Ligue 1 last season.
The Ivory Coast international has the qualities to bring Everton’s right-back position up to scratch with some of the top teams in the Premier League.
Everton have also shown an interest in Djed Spence, who would also make a solid signing for the Blues.
However, the data shows just how big of an upgrade Doue would offer a club like Everton, if they were able to go all out and sign him.
The only area in which Spence was able to outperform Doue was his ability to carry the ball, which shows the England international’s main threat.
However, Doue’s ability to pass the ball, put crosses into the box and continue to be defensively strong shows just how big of an addition he will make for a team this summer.
Everton are closing in on the signing of Tyrique George, which would bring their spending up to just under £40m if they land both him and Hackney.
There may well be some concerns as to how far the budget will stretch this summer, but Doue has shown he is a player that could be worth every penny.
If Everton are considering a move, they will likely need to act fast as he prepares to return home following his World Cup exit.
Receive a digest of our best Everton content each week direct to your mailbox
