Everton are pushing to sign Southampton winger Tyler Dibling this summer transfer window.
David Moyes has identified Tyler Dibling as his top priority, with the right-winger position threadbare at the moment.
Everton have been left frustrated, though, having had three bids rejected by Southampton, who are demanding a sizable fee.
Saints did send the Toffees a counter-offer earlier this week, believed to be lower than their initial £50m asking price.
So, Dibling’s future is still up in the air despite making a cameo off the bench against Ipswich Town today.
Southampton star Tyler Dibling.
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
What Southampton fans sang about Everton target Tyler Dibling
Dibling has told Southampton he wants to join Everton and was therefore excluded from training and the opening day squad against Wrexham.
However, Will Still decided to bring him back into the fold this week, with the 19-year-old playing eight minutes of the 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town this afternoon.
Saints fans are clearly eager for him to stay as they chanted his name in a show of faith towards their wantaway winger.
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Speaking pre-game, Still admitted that he’ll try to use Dibling and Mateus Fernandes, who’s been linked with Nottingham Forest, as much as he can whilst they remain at the club.
So, evidently, he’s not totally convinced the teenager will stay.
Tyler Dibling alternatives
If Everton can’t reach an agreement with Southampton to sign Dibling, then there are three others they could turn to.
Moyes likes Takefusa Kubo at Real Sociedad, and he is valued at around £34m by the La Liga outfit. Malick Fofana is also on Moyes’ radar and would cost a similar fee.
Fofana left the door open for a late move, speaking after Lyon’s 1-0 win against Lens yesterday.
“If I stay at OL? Trick question. In football, anything can happen,” Fofana explained.
“If I stay, it will be by being happy to stay at Lyon. That’s it, we’ll see. It’s not that I want to leave, but if we have a good opportunity, we’ll see.”
Leicester City’s Abdul Fatawu has also been linked to Everton, but his lofty price tag appears to be a stumbling block, like Dibling.