Everton have now been handed a major boost in their chase to sign an impressive England international to commence their summer business.
Everton racing to sign England star
The Toffees are ones to watch this summer. They narrowly missed out on European qualification this season, and have already set their sights on some impressive upgrades.
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The Toffees are in contention to sign a "really special" player.
Among those potential upgrades is Hayden Hackney. The Middlesbrough midfielder looks destined to leave Teesside after missing out on promotion to the Premier League at Wembley, and could be available for as little as £10m. It would be one of the bargains of the summer and Everton are among the frontrunners.
Hackney isn't the only name on their radar, either. The Merseyside club have also set their sights on Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus, who will be available for around £20m - another bargain price.
The plan seems to be centred around cut-price deals around English football and that means a third target has made the Toffees' list ahead of the summer window.
According to SportsBoom, Everton have joined the race to sign Aaron Ramsdale, who is set to leave Southampton after their failure to secure promotion and the end of his loan spell at Newcastle United.
Aaron-Ramsdale-Newcastle
The goalkeeper wants to return to the Premier League and has already been replaced at St Mary's. Indeed, their permanent addition of Daniel Peretz in a deal worth £7m from Bayern Munich has gifted the Toffees an opening.
Everton believe that he can become the eventual replacement for 32-year-old Jordan Pickford, though it remains to be seen how much Southampton demand to sell Ramsdale in the coming months.
Why Ramsdale could replace Pickford at Everton
When the time eventually comes for Pickford to hang up his gloves at Everton, replacing him will be a near-impossible task. But in Ramsdale, the Toffees may have their answer.
The Southampton man has been among Pickford's deputies for England in recent years and is a player with plenty of Premier League experience these days. At 28 years old, and at the peak of his powers, he should be next in line for the No.1 shirt at the Hill Dickinson.
Dubbed "unbelievable" by Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, Ramsdale is still the same goalkeeper who earned a move to Arsenal and challenged for the title with the Gunners before David Raya's arrival.
That experience even below Pickford, at this stage of Friedkin's project, would prove to be invaluable. If all parties are willing to wait for the perfect timing, then Ramsdale will be Everton's No.1 in years to come, finally taking back a starting place in the Premier League.
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