Everton have missed out on some really top players over the last decade.
Perhaps most notably, Everton were on the verge of signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia back in the 2021 summer window.
That deal failed to materialise, and now Kvaratskhelia is widely regarded as one of the best wingers on the planet at Paris Saint-Germain.
And, quite remarkably, in the 2022 window, Everton were keen on signing another player who’s now smashing it at PSG.
He actually scored a hat-trick for the French giants last night.
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vintinha.
Photo by Ibrahim Ezzat/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Everton must regret missing out on Vitinha
Back in 2022, Everton were actually one of the clubs keeping tabs on then Porto midfielder Vitinha, according to 90min, via Ghana Soccernet.
PSG managed to swoop in and land his signature for around £35m, and since then, he’s gone on to become a world class midfielder.
Vitinha scored a hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League last night, and Thomas Frank said after the game that he’ll be the next Ballon d’Or winner.
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“The next Ballon d’Or winner will be again from PSG. It will be Vitinha. The best midfielder in the world and he’ll be the next Ballon d’Or winner. Wow, what a player,” Frank told reporters.
Everton’s recruitment team would’ve certainly watched that display with some regret, although they were outsiders in the transfer race a few years ago.
At least it shows their foresight to predict Vitinha’s sensational rise.
Who did Everton sign instead of Vitinha?
Instead of signing Vitinha, Everton shelled out around £33m on Amadou Onana from Lille and that turned out to be a really successful transfer.
Onana established himself as one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the Premier League and ended up leaving in a £50m deal to join Aston Villa two years later.
So, the Toffees made a nice profit on that deal in a time when PSR issues were really taking a grip of the club.
Everton’s midfield is now stocked with some really talented footballers and excitement is already building around Harrison Armstrong’s return from his loan at Preston North End.
Armstrong has been tipped to become England captain one day by Preston fans, so he’s clearly impressing in Lancashire.
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