Everton are making determined moves to keep Tyrique George at Merseyside after his loan spell, according to multiple reports. The Toffees are giving serious thought to signing the Chelsea loanee on a permanent deal, with talks over the 20-year-old left-winger now gathering real pace. The England Under-21 international is believed to be rated by David Moyes, but he endured a frustratingly limited loan spell.
George arrived on a loan-to-buy deal from Chelsea in the winter window, giving the club the option to make the transfer permanent. That option-to-buy is believed to be set at around £22 million, and Everton are keen to renegotiate the figure with Chelsea before making a full commitment. The winger was brought in as emergency cover in January following Jack Grealish’s foot injury and made 11 appearances, showing genuine pace and directness in his cameos.
But there is a distinct reason for the hesitancy behind the scenes at Hill Dickinson Stadium. George played only 210 minutes, just one Premier League start, and now Everton have to decide if the asking price is good value. The Friedkin Group have concentrated their recruitment strategy at the club on value, sustainability and building a stronger squad rather than paying over the odds for unproven talent. And that cautious outlook is why the Toffees are probing Chelsea’s flexibility before pulling the trigger on anything definitive.
Newcastle Lurk as June 30 Deadline Poses Risk to Everton’s Pursuit
George’s loan officially ends on June 30, so the Merseysiders have until then to strike a deal before other clubs can swoop in. There’s a real sense of urgency to the ongoing talks between the two Premier League clubs with the cut-off looming.
There is added pressure partly from interest elsewhere, with one suitor watching closely from the sidelines. The report claims Newcastle United are keeping an eye on developments with Chelsea believed to value the player at around £22m. Eddie Howe’s side are said to need to bolster their attacking options, and George fits the bill as a young player ready for the Premier League and available for a reasonable fee.
But Everton’s biggest plus is the time they have already spent watching the youngster up close. They know his attitude, how he trains and deals with spells when game time is hard to come by. Chelsea, for their part, are ready to sanction an exit, with George having just 12 months remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge.