Everton have had a quiet January transfer window, but that is subject to change with the deadline now only hours away.
David Moyes leapt and bounded as Beto scored a last-gasp equaliser away to Brighton in the Premier League at the weekend, but Everton remain interested in strengthening their frontline for the remainder of the season.
Jack Grealish is out injured with a foot stress fracture, and Toffees chiefs fear that is the 30-year-old's season done. Chelsea teenager Tyrique George has been pinned as the man to replace him, but Everton remain intent on targeting numerous positions.
Finding a right-back at this late stage might be a step too far, but the Merseysiders have identified a Premier League midfielder who could reinforce Moyes' system.
Everton lining up Premier League midfielder
Idrissa Gueye has started 15 Premier League games for Everton this season, with a jaunt off to AFCON with triumphant Senegal adding mileage to the dashboard. He is 36, and Everton could do with a bit more variation.
Idrissa-Gueye
The Hill Dickinson side have an outside chance of landing themselves a ticket into next year's European competition, and to achieve that lofty goal, Moyes is looking to shore up his midfield with a well-known Premier League star.
According to Caught Offside, Everton are in the race to sign Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips ahead of the imminent transfer deadline, with Pep Guardiola and the powers that be willing to sanction the fringe player's winter departure.
kalvin-phillips-man-city
City are prepared to cut their losses, and are willing to accept a figure worth just £10m to see him move to Merseyside or any other willing suitor. Phillips' salary does pose a problem, with his £150k-per-week earnings sure to prove too much for the Friedkin Group to offer.
Therefore, middle ground needs to be found by a number of parties for this one to go through, and time is running out.
Why Moyes wants to reunite with Kalvin Phillips
Moyes clearly respects Phillips' quality, for the Scottish manager secured the Manchester City outcast's services on loan for the second half of the 2023/24 campaign at West Ham United.
West Ham midfielder Kalvin Phillips
West Ham midfielder Kalvin Phillips
At EURO 2021, Phillips announced himself to the major stage, impeccable alongside Declan Rice, the perfect counterweight.
The 29-year-old's combative and strong-minded midfield performances led to Man City's £45m acquisition, England success surmounting a terrific emergence in the Premier League in Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United side.
While there would be an element of risk about signing this player, who has flattered to deceive at the Etihad and struggled to impose himself during loan spells at West Ham and Ipswich Town, he was monstrous when Leeds broke into the big time, and that tough-tackling, ball-spraying midfielder is still in there.
Moyes has a way with struggling stars, something he has proved (as if he needed to prove anything), with Grealish this season, rekindling the England star's career before it was brutally stunted by an injury setback.
Kalvin Phillips in the Premier League (20/21)
Stats (* per game)
Matches (starts)
Goals + Assists
Touches*
Accurate passes*
Big chances created
Key passes*
Succ. dribbles*
Tackles + interceptions*
Duels (won)*
Data via Sofascore
Grealish, who has spoken of his love for Moyes this season, is Everton's top assist maker in the Premier League, with six goals supplied. Furthermore, the Three Lions star has won 5.3 duels and created two chances per game.
Moyes has created a stable and progressive system at Everton, and the midfield depth should see Phillips able to contest for a position and not feel overburdened as he jockeys with Gueye. Perhaps, through this, he could rekindle the form that led The Athletic's Jordan Campbell to hail him as a "machine" of a midfielder.
Biggest deals Premier League January 2026 (deadline day)
With Grealish already resurrecting his career after falling by the wayside at Manchester City, Phillips should now follow suit, earning a reprieve and a chance to build again after several testing years.
ndiaye-everton Related
Deal now close: Everton in advanced talks to sign their new Ndiaye
Everton are closing in on a late signing for a star who is similar to fan favourite Iliman Ndiaye.