The late transfer demand that Thelwell has made as Euro side eye Everton star

Add as preferred source on Google

Everton’s transfer department have enjoyed a silent window thus far, with their jobs having been made relatively simple by the recent ruling.

The Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules have claimed that the Toffees were in breach for a second time this season earlier this week, and as such, seemingly cannot.

As such, they have had little to do.

Warding off unlikely and admittedly weak interest from larger sides for the likes of Amadou Onana and Jarrad Branthwaite, it is laughable that the main saga throughout January has actually been over a player they don’t actually own.

However, they do still hold all the cards when it comes to the immediate future of Arnaut Danjuma.

Who could Everton sign before Deadline Day?

With Lyon’s reported interest in the Dutchman well-documented, his lack of game time under Sean Dyche had him keen to make the move.

Having his agent emerge and elude to such a notion, it seemingly sparked something in Kevin Thelwell that got his negotiating brain ticking.

After all, there is clearly one player in France that he has already shown an interest in. An opportunity emerged.

So, as per French outlet L’Equipe, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers sporting director has issued a last-gasp transfer demand, claiming that if they are to allow defender Jake O’Brien to make the switch to Goodison Park, they will allow Danjuma to move in the other direction.

Although the furthest thing from a like-for-like swap, it seems that Thelwell is keen to use his opportunism to bring a hulking 6 foot 6 presence into his backline options.

Who is Jake O’Brien?

Whilst an unknown name to many, the Irish central defender has been making waves in French football despite starring for a struggling outfit.

After all, the 22-year-old has a touch of quality that Dyche’s defenders seem to lack with his 89% pass accuracy higher than anyone in the entire Everton squad.

Not only that, but with three goals too he is certainly a momentous threat from set pieces due to his size and aggression.

The Irishman had previously enjoyed the bulk of his youth career with Cork City before moving to Crystal Palace, but since trading the English capital for France he has begun shining as a first-team regular.

Posting 5.5 ball recoveries and 3.2 clearances per game already in Ligue 1 further emphasises that.

Although losing out on Danjuma might be tough, the £52k-per-week dud would hardly be impossible to replace.

After all, the man branded a ‘nightmare for defenders’ by pundit Kevin Phillips has instead been more of a nightmare for Dyche, clearly not offering what he requires from his wingers, and thus making just four Premier League starts.