Our writers have their say on whether Everton should pay £50m to sign Tyler Dibling from Southampton
Tyler Dibling of Southampton
Tyler Dibling of Southampton
Just when you thought the Tyler Dibling transfer saga was slowing down. The 19-year-old is now training alone with Southampton after serious interest from Everton.
The Blues have made three offers for the winger, although they have fallen short of Saints’ £50million valuation. A counter proposal from the Championship club worth a potential £50m - £45m up front and £5m in add-ons, with a 25 per cent sell-on clause included - has been rejected by Everton.
While the respected grandstanding from both clubs may not be surprising, the Blues are still without a natural right winger as the start of the season nears. So should they just pay up to get this one over the line?
Our writers have their say...
Matt Jones
It is obviously very important that Everton do business in the coming days and despite it being a clear priority this summer, the right wing position remains unaddressed.
The Blues could definitely have Dibling if they wanted, too. Southampton have clearly set a price and the recent news about him training alone - doing only non-contact work, no less - indicates that they are protecting their asset.
Still, perceptions are important and especially in this summer for The Friedkin Group. Everton will want to set their stall out as tough negotiators, not a club that will say ‘how high?’ when asked to jump.
That is a fine balance of course. Setting red lines on player values could mean you’re left short by the time the season starts. But it feels like the Blues are beginning to push things along after their tour to the United States exposed some huge gaps in the squad.
And if you’re going to pay big money this summer, Dibling might be a smarter gamble than some. He is clearly talented and is young enough to make money back on further down the line if things don’t go well.
And if things do go well at Everton? We know he could light up Hill Dickinson Stadium and how much a rising English star can be worth.
So £50m may still feel a bit too high. But there is still plenty to suggest there’s juice left in this transfer saga and time for a compromise to be reached between both parties slightly short of that figure. Let's see who blinks first.
Paul Wheelock
We can't blame Southampton, can we? They are doing exactly what Everton did last summer when Manchester United came calling for Jarrad Branthwaite.
But while that's all well and good, it does not mean the Blues have to bow to the Saints' demands.
That said, David Moyes desperately needs a right winger. And, to be fair, the Everton recruitment team have been trying to provide the manager with one.
That much is clear given the Blues' interest in Francisco Conceicao, Johan Bakayoko, Takefusa Kubo and Malick Fofana, all of whom are excellent players. But for varying reasons, none of those deals got over the line.
But it feels like this Dibling one still can.
And that's why Everton shouldn't give up on it.
While a £50m all-in fee seems steep for a 19-year-old with just one full Premier League season under his belt, there are enough people in the game who think the talented teenager can go to the very top.
And Dibling is the type of player the Blues must target. Sadly, at present, they can't compete with Juventus for the likes of Conceicao while players like Fofana would favour a move to a club competing in the Champions League.
Dibling is said to be keen to join Everton, who would be able to give him the platform to perform and develop into one of the best wide players in the country.
And, such is the nature of today's game, if he does that, the Blues may one day be forced to cash in on him.
But here's the sticking point. If that transpires, there is no way they can agree to Southampton's 25 per cent sell-on clause.
Knock that down and maybe increase the add ons, some of which should not be easily achievable, and this transfer could be very much back on.