Everton manager David Moyes has responded to his opening-day defeat at the hands of newly-promoted Leeds United in the Premier League by striking a deal for a top transfer target.
Yes, a £40m deal has been agreed for Southampton's Tyler Dibling, the 19-year-old attacking midfielder who has been described as a "world-class talent" by former Saints academy manager Andy Goldie.
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Tyler Dibling
It fixes a gaping hole on the Toffees' attacking right flank, though there remains a desperate need for greater depth, if Moyes is to pull it all together and ensure his side challenge for a place at the higher end of the league table.
In particular, Everton need a right-back.
Everton pushing to sign new right-back
Everton released the 40-year-old Ashley Young at the end of his contract last season, retaining club legened Seamus Coleman. However, the skipper is into the twilight of his career, and so Jake O'Brien continued to deputise as a right-back at Elland Road.
Nathan Patterson, after all, was sidelined through injury once again.
Jake O'Brien in action for Everton
Jake O'Brien in action for Everton
O'Brien, 24, is a talented, tenacious defender, but he's naturally a centre-back, and so it's clear that Everton need to make a signing who could add a bit more dynamism and impetus to the side.
Well, according to Spanish outlet Sport, Barcelona are preparing for the departure of young prospect Hector Fort, with the 19-year-old at the centre of a loan approach from West Ham United.
hector-fort
The report continues to suggest that the Premier League is the likely destination for the up-and-comer and that other teams, such as Everton, remain in the running.
Just last summer, Barca rejected an offer north of £30m so it would not be a surprise if the Toffees had to pay big to secure his services.
What Hector Fort would bring to Everton
Fort, a versatile full-back, would join a list of players to have made the move from La Blaugrana to the blue half of Merseyside, but his ability to play across both flanks, his technical gifts and his ball-playing acumen suggest he could become Everton's next version of cult hero Gerard Deulofeu.
Barcelona youngster Hector Fort
Swiftly asserting himself as he joined Everton from Barcelona on loan for the 2013/14 season, Deulofeu notched eight goal contributions across 29 matches for the club, with the manager at the time, Roberto Martinez, going on to hail him as a "real diamond" of a player.
He spent two-and-a-half years at Goodison Park, all told, playing with a point to prove, and though he ebbed and flowed, none can contest the winger's skilful style.
The same could be attributed to Fort, who, hailed for his "immense" talent by journalist Antonio Mango, would be determined to showcase his qualities and unleash some of his Catalonian flair on the Premier League, be that at right-back or on the left.
Hector Fort - Career Stats by Position (all levels)
Position
Right-back
Left-back
Data via Transfermarkt
As per FBref, Fort ranks among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues for pass completion, the top 2% for passes attempted, the top 26% for shot-creating actions and the top 14% for ball recoveries per 90.
A ball recovery is defined by the number of loose balls recovered by a player.
In La Liga, he might have only featured 17 times last term, but he played his part in winning the title, with Sofascore recording that the teenage talent completed 92% of his passes and avoided making a single error, bespeaking his cultured style even at this stage of his career.
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Fort would certainly present Everton with a welcome contrast on the right side of defence, and with a point to prove on a short-term deal, the Spaniard might even find himself enjoying the same success as Deulofeu when his 31-year-old compatriot was in his pomp.
And as a natural right-back, he would surely mark an upgrade on O'Brien too, allowing the Irishman to shift into his own natural berth and enrich the dynamism and fluency that Moyes is trying to achieve.