It has been all quiet on the transfer front for the last week or so for Everton, but now, with just days of the window left, things have exploded into life.
Whether it be brought about because of their sluggish start to the Premier League season, or whether waiting for the right opportunity was always their plan, the Toffees have struck with two late moves in an effort to solidify their midfield.
In fact, such is the nature and alarming speed of this one particular deal, a medical is booked in for today, with all things pointing towards a completed move.
Having brushed aside Doncaster Rovers yesterday in the EFL Cup, and with AFC Bournemouth at home this Saturday, by the end of the week, Everton could be a positive force once again.
That all starts with getting one or two additional deals over the line.
Everton set to complete a deal for Orel Mangala
Sean Dyche has been vocal about the club’s financial restrictions, yet proved everyone wrong this summer with their free-spending start.
Wherever he got the money from, Kevin Thelwell found a way to bring Iliman Ndiaye, Tim Iroegbunam, Jesper Lindstrom and later Jake O’Brien to Goodison Park with minimal fuss.
It marked four solid acquisitions all set to bolster the first team, yet it felt like there was still something missing, with a lack of depth swiftly exposed in their opening two league fixtures.
An inability to change the midfield due to few options really hamstrung Dyche, who was forced to start a 34-year-old Idrissa Gueye in these opening two losses.
Fortunately, according to Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, that is all set to change, as they close in on Lyon midfielder Orel Mangala.
He writes: ‘Orel #Mangala will join @Everton with immediate effect. Total verbal agreement is done/ One-year-loan with an option to buy of €40m (£33m). Agreement with Lyon, also there.
‘Mangala, expected to finalize his medical on Wednesday.’
Would Orel Mangala improve Everton?
One thing that Dyche has also been keen to claim is that the reason why his new signings have not been started is due to their unfamiliarity with the Premier League.
Not wanting to simply throw them in at the deep end, none of O’Brien, Ndiaye or Lindstrom have started their opening two league fixtures.
Fortunately, Mangala would not suffer from this fate, having spent two years with Nottingham Forest before his permanent move to Lyon this very summer.
A busy central midfielder who would surely take the place of Gueye, he is a solid presence, capable of winning back possession in the engine room and screening the backline before then making a safe pass to a more creative teammate.
As such, in his debut year in the Premier League, the Belgian maintained an 89% pass accuracy alongside 1.3 interceptions, 1.4 tackles, 1.4 clearances and 3.7 ball recoveries per game.
Perhaps not worth the £33m touted, fortunately, this is nothing more than an option.
A risk-free loan that was negotiated under the radar, it marks yet another shrewd piece of business to improve Everton again.
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