Everton are preparing for a big spend once the financial year elapses at the end of June.
Everton have had to be wary of their spending this month for PSR purposes but once we enter July, the Friedkin Group are expected to hand David Moyes a substantial budget.
Moyes is exploring a deal to sign Aleksandar Mitrovic, with it being reported on the weekend that a £38.5m deal could be lined up.
Lyon’s Malick Fofana is also on Everton’s radar, although, he could cost north of £40m and is wanted by a whole host of European giants.
One of Everton’s other rumoured targets is a lot more realistic, and David Moyes would’ve been put on a red alert by what he did on the weekend.
James McAtee playing for the England U21s.
Photo by Tullio Puglia – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Everton target James McAtee shines for England under-21s
Everton have been eyeing a move to sign James McAtee after it became apparent he was surplus to requirements at Manchester City.
McAtee has a reported price tag of around £35m and is being eyed by a couple of clubs in the Premier League and Bundesliga.
Moyes is known to be a big fan of recruiting players based on watching live football, and so he surely would’ve watched the City playmaker in action for England’s under-21s in the European Championships on Saturday.
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Perhaps he wasn’t in attendance, but either way, the Scotsman will surely have been put on red alert at the 22-year-old’s sensational performance.
The England skipper netted in the 3-1 win over Spain and was a constant driving force from midfield, as per GOAL.
8/10 – “The skipper showed composure when others may have lost their heads for the opener and repeatedly went on driving runs for his side.”
UEFA awarded the Everton target the Player of the Match award as he looked every inch of his £35m asking price.
Moyes should go for McAtee over Jack Grealish
Everton have been eyeing Jack Grealish, but there is so much legwork to do for that deal to materialise.
Manchester City want at least £50m for Grealish, and he is thought to be earning around £300,000-a-week, too.
So, it’d take a substantial chunk of Moyes’ transfer budget, and when looking at players like McAtee, it shows there’s better out there for a much cheaper price.
The left-footed playmaker looked years beyond his age and was always showing for the ball to progress it up the pitch.
McAtee is a profile Everton don’t currently have either so it’d be a really smart bit of business and one that Moyes will now surely be seriously considering.