Koni de Winter Dan Friedkin Everton
(Credit: Hasan Karim/Breaking Media, RTBFSport)
Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent
Sun 30 March 2025 11:36, UK
Genoa are happy to sell Koni De Winter this summer amid interest from Everton and other Premier League and European sides, sources have told Football Insider.
De Winter’s form in Serie A this season has seen the 22-year-old break into Belgium’s senior team and attract suitors in the form of Everton, Wolves and Scudetto favourites Inter Milan ahead of the summer.
Everton are set to be in the market for a centre-back with Michael Keane’s contract heading for expiry, and regardless of if Jarrad Branthwaite does leave the club for big money, reinforcements will be needed.
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that he’d be surprised to see them pursue a move for Branthwaite given their spending prior, but an exit can’t be entirely ruled out.
Sources have told Football Insider that with Everton set to be on the hunt for central defenders either way, De Winter is a player whose physicality could see him slot seamlessly into Premier League life.
Everton would be buying potential if they do beat Wolves and Inter in the race for De Winter, and with Genoa likely to accept between £20–25million for the Belgian, that race will certainly be an intense one.
Michael Keane Everton
Michael Keane looks set to leave Everton this summer (Credit: Imago)
MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES
De Winter transfer to be sign of the times at transformed Everton
Everton’s number one priority in the transfer market this summer – in terms of their existing squad – will be retaining the services of Branthwaite, who like De Winter, is attracting interest aplenty across Europe.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson told Football Insider that Man United defender Harry Maguire is be a player Moyes would be keen on if Branthwaite does depart the club, but this may not be the case.
Branthwaite’s future will be decisive for Everton’s transfer policy this summer, but bringing in De Winter to play alongside him, instead of the much older Maguire, is the kind of signing they will need to make.
Jarrad Branthwaite Everton
Branthwaite is a target for several of Europe’s top teams this summer (Credit: Imago)
Everton must hit ground running in summer transfer window
Strengthening in central defence, where any new signing will likely start behind Branthwaite and James Tarkowski in Moyes’ XI, will be a top priority for the Toffees this summer, and De Winter would fit the bill.
Football Insider reported on 25 March that with their lengthy PSR worries behind them heading into the summer, Everton’s approach is set to be aggressive as Moyes prepares to farewell up to 13 players.
As well as in central defence, the wide areas will also be of interest if Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom aren’t signed permanently, with previous target Ernest Nuamah potentially available for a cut-price fee.
Juventus frontman Dusan Vlahovic has also been sought as a potential high-profile signing, with Dan Friedkin set to let the shackles off as Everton get ready for their new era – with or without Branthwaite.
Related Posts