Everton have previously found some gems for fees just under £30m.
Romelu Lukaku went on to net 87 goals in 166 games for Everton following a £28m move from Chelsea in July 2014, whilst Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has impressed since his own £25m move from Stamford Bridge back in August.
Everton were ready to splash £27m a month before that £25m deal as Francisco Conceicao was targeted.
The Telegraph later explained how the Portugal international opted to reject a move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium in favour of Juventus – but his form in Turin so far this season suggests David Moyes dodged a bullet.
Francisco Conceicao shows Everton missed out on nothing special
£27m is a substantial sum, a fee Juventus ended up paying to take the 23-year-old from Porto after he turned down Everton.
What do you make to that Everton fans? 😒
For £27m, you would presume Juventus wanted more than three goals and zero assists in 20 appearances, but that is all Conceicao has been able to muster so far this season.
Everton have already seen one £27m deal fail as Thierno Barry struggles to replicate his form with Villarreal on Merseyside, so the Toffees must be breathing a sigh of relief that they managed to avoid two in the same window.
Malick Fofana is another who rejected Everton last summer – only to experience a difficult season too having netted two goals in 12 games and suffered ankle problems to boot.
On this evidence, the Toffees perhaps need to reassess how they analyse wingers, as two who were on the shortlist last summer are struggling.
The situation involving Tyler Dibling also supports that sentiment. The England U21 international is yet to score or assist in 15 games for Everton following his £40m move from Southampton in August.
Everton still need to find a winger despite worrying recruitment pattern
Despite hardly instilling much confidence in Everton fans with the wingers they have already targeted, The Friedkin Group still need to find a new one for Moyes.
Would you even pay £30m for Jack Grealish? 🫣
Everton started Jack Grealish and Dwight McNeil out wide last time out in the Premier League for the 1-1 draw against Wolves, with Dibling the only backup winger on the bench.
These are weak options, and if Everton lose Iliman Ndiaye this summer too, the need for a new source of magic out wide will only increase.
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