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It's been a typically long and arduous summer transfer window for the Everton persuasion, but David Moyes and his side have the finish line in sight as they look to close a few last-gasp deals.
Everton have made a quietly promising start to the season, defeating Crystal Palace at the Hil Dickinson in the Premier League before salvaging a draw at Bournemouth through James Tarkowski's captain's contribution in the dying embers. Four points from two, and Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur up next.
REUTERS/Ian Walton
With Iliman Ndiaye on the verge of a transfer to Manchester City, Everton need to sign a replacement. He might not be a like-for-like swap, but Folarin Balogun could inject his own talismanic quality across the blue half of Merseyside.
Why Folarin Balogun can become Everton's new talisman
Balogun, one-time Arsenal youth product, has enjoyed a successful stint in French football, his time with Reims and then Monaco replete with goals. He is an instinctive striker who packs quite the punch in front of goal. He knows how to score a goal.
Everton have agreed a £40m deal with Monaco to sign the USMNT international, who scored three goals from four matches for his nation at the recent World Cup over the pond.
The 25-year-old's consistency in front of goal and devastating striking ability makes him a force to be reckoned with, and no mistake - a player who could enjoy a game-changing impact as Everton's frontman, challenging Thierno Barry and perhaps offering a bit more maturity in the final third.
Everton had hoped to welcome Richarlison back to Merseyside in a romantic reunion, but that one's dead in the water. No matter, Balogun could actually prove the sharper signing in the long run.
Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
What a signing; fingers crossed Everton get it over the finish line at this late stage. Now, the onus is on patching over the various other holes across Moyes' squad, with the decision-makers looking to close a deal for a signing offering shades of Balogun.
Everton agree deal to sign another Balogun
Everton's hopes of signing Tete from Fulham are dangling by a thread, and it might have been a concern, prolonging the endless wait for a new right-back at the Hill Dickinson, but for the club's pivot to France to sign Lyon's Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Folarin Balogun USA
According to Sky Sports' Mark McAdam, Everton have agreed a bargain £4m deal to sign Maitland-Niles, with the versatile all-rounder considered by Moyes to upgrade on Jake O'Brien at right-back.
The 29-year-old has entered the final year of his deal in France, and would emulate Balogun in becoming another former Arsenal youth graduate to strengthen the Toffees project this summer.
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Maitland-Niles has spent the lion's share of his time at Lyon as a right-back, and he has the progressiveness, pace and physicality to enjoy a seamless transition back to the Premier League.
After all, he knows English football very well, and could strengthen Everton's backline, having kept ten clean sheets across 30 Ligue 1 matches last season.
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Ainsley Maitland-Niles - Career Stats by Position
Position
Right-back
Right wing-back
Central midfield
Left-back
Left wing-back
Right winger
Centre-back
He is very much Mr. Versatile, but Moyes would undoubtedly pin him to the right side of Everton's defence, that area that has proved so difficult to sort out over the past several years.
Nathan Patterson is closing in on a move to Torino in Italy, so it's imperative that Everton do get a deal for a new right-back over the line. Tete looked to have been picked as the man for the job, but Maitland-Niles will do just fine.
Maitland-Niles has actually played 109 times for Arsenal in the Premier League. Since then, he has grown into a more focal role with Lyon in France.
He is unquestionably an astute piece of business, differing in scale from Balogun, but bringing a similar flavour to an outfit who might just be ready to challenge for European qualification this season - maybe even a trophy too.
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