Steven Gerrard wants to sign ‘physical’ player on loan from Everton before Friday’s deadline

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Everton were one of the many clubs to benefit from the supreme Saudi-Arabian spending spree of last summer, where the Middle Eastern clubs simply went wild in the market.

Tempting some of Europe’s biggest names with contracts that few could turn down, that free-spending nature has certainly dried up of late, thus leaving the Premier League to find other workarounds to avoid further PSR backlash.

However, that’s not to suggest that they could not still come in with a few late offers before the window slams shut.

In fact, Steven Gerrard’s side Al-Ettifaq are once again sniffing around an Everton player, just 12 months after they snagged one away from Goodison Park.

Steven Gerrard opens up transfer talks with Everton

The latest on this pursuit comes courtesy of journalist Ben Jacobs, who actually took to X to provide an update on the future of Chelsea’s Harvey Vale.

However, it is what he writes directly after this which will be of interest to Sean Dyche and Evertonians, suggesting that Gerrard is also interested in signing a player who has made just one senior start for the club.

The reporter wrote: ‘Al-Ettifaq in talks with Harvey Vale over a permanent move, as @SamiMokbel81_DM called. No agreement yet. Club-to-club talks advanced with #CFC looking for at least £400k and potentially closer to £800k with add-ons. Ettifaq also exploring a loan for Everton’s Reece Welch.’

The 20-year-old, who has enjoyed one loan spell with Forest Green Rovers, was once lauded by temporary manager David Horseman last summer: ‘This is one we’re really excited about. A big thank you to Everton for making it sure got done.

‘Reece is a really physical centre-back with good mobility. He’s a lovely footballer. He arrives with good pedigree, and he’s highly rated at Everton. He will help us a lot this season.’

Everton should be pushing more of their dead wood to Saudi Arabia

Just a year after the Saudi Pro League really started to put itself on the map, spending big to alleviate all of the Premier League’s financial problems, it seems all has gone quiet on this front.

Naturally, there have still been some big moves made this summer, but none as huge or frequent as this item last year.

After all, many might recall Neymar, Karim Benzema, Aymeric Laporte and Sadie Mane, just to name a few, trading the heights of European football for the Middle East in 2023.

But, even Demarai Gray was one such player who departed, giving Everton a much-needed cash injection as he departed for Gerrard’s side.

Abdoulaye Doucoure was another also linked with a move to Al-Ettifaq.

Perhaps, with interest in Welch clear, the Toffees could seek to ship some of their other dead wood off for a fee before their contracts run out. This could see the likes of Neal Maupay, Mason Holgate and Michael Keane all offered.

Something is certainly better than nothing.