Everton could make a fresh attempt to sign Brooke Norton-Cuffy from Genoa this summer, as David Moyes seeks to strengthen his full-back options.
Norton-Cuffy was heavily linked with Everton during the January transfer window.
At one point it was looking like an exit for Nathan Patterson could have been on the cards. But the Scot ended up staying.
There are so many to choose from! 🫣
Jean-Philippe Gbamin is surely in your top three… 😫
Jean-Philippe Gbamin of Everton warms up prior to the Premier League match between Everton and Crystal Palace. Neal Maupay of Everton looks on during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Salford City and Everton. Cenk Tosun of Everton during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Hull City and Everton.
Credit: Getty Images/Jon Super – Pool/Charlotte Tattersall/Matthew Ashton – AMA.
In the end, Everton didn’t make any new full-back signings, instead swooping for Tyrique George to provide some wing cover after the injury to Jack Grealish.
But supporters are expecting to see at least two new full-backs arrive this summer – and journalist Joe Thomas has given a positive update.
Everton could go back in for Brooke Norton-Cuffy
Brooke Norton-Cuffy playing for Genoa.
Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images
Joe Thomas spoke about Everton’s potential transfer activity on the Royal Blue: The Everton FC Podcast live on Monday.
Interestingly, he stated that Everton moving for Norton-Cuffy wasn’t ever really on in January, but could be something that the club look at this summer.
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He said: “Yeah, they had a bit of interest in Brooke Norton-Cuffy in January.
“When I inquired about that, the thought process there seemed to be that if they were going to go for it, it wasn’t going to be in January, so maybe they’ll return to him in the summer.
“But we know that Moyes likes players that have got Premier League experience.”
Former Arsenal youngster Norton-Cuffy will have three years left on his contract in the summer, meaning Genoa will be in no mood to do any favours.
But it has been claimed that Genoa would prefer to sell Norton-Cuffy, so that stance may be helpful for Everton in securing a deal.
It was claimed Norton-Cuffy’s asking price was around £17 million in January, so we’ll see if that will be the valuation in the next window.
Why Everton will surely make new right-back swoop at long last
It would be a major shock if Everton didn’t finally make a new right-back signing this summer.
The club haven’t addressed the position for a long time, with Nathan Patterson being the last addition back in January 2022. Ashley Young did arrive on a free in 2023, but was not a specialist right-back and provided cover for multiple positions.
So Everton simply have to make this a top priority in the summer.
Nathan Patterson on the ball for Everton.
Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images
Patterson is clearly not in favour at all with David Moyes, despite some decent performances lately.
Jake O’Brien can do a job out wide, but his natural position is in the middle and that is ideally where he needs to be playing in the long term.
And Seamus Coleman will be out of contract.
Hopefully, Everton can steal a march on other clubs for Norton-Cuffy, who would really revitalise the right-back position.
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