David Moyes applauds his players after Everton's Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest in Liverpool | Naomi Baker/Getty Imagesplaceholder image
David Moyes applauds his players after Everton's Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest in Liverpool | Naomi Baker/Getty Images | Getty Images
Everton are on the look-out for new players and one of England’s most in demand midfielders could be first on David Moyes’ shopping list.
How Everton are pushing for a European place is almost a minor miracle as David Moyes continues to get the most out of the smallest squad in the Premier League.
Safe from relegation, the Toffees can start looking up the table in the hope that qualifying for football on the continent will help to lure summer signings and persuade them that their future lies at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Outside of the matchday squad, there isn’t much depth and it will need to be strengthened again when the transfer re-opens, especially if European football is secured.
Everton compete for £30m-rated midfielder
One area of the park that, on the face of it, doesn’t seem to need that much attention is midfield. Moyes is well stocked for central midfielders, however, Idrissa Gana Gueye isn’t getting any younger, even if his powers appear to be timeless. Harrison Armstrong has also emerged as a serious contender for first-team football next season and his minutes should be increased to see how he copes with the pressure of expectation.
Everton have been linked with a move for Middlesborough’s Hayden Hackney who has a similar all-action style to James Garner and who, at 23-years old, is at the perfect age to step up to the Premier League after making his breakthrough as a teenager in the Championship. Liverpool have also been credited with an interest in the past but, according to TEAMtalk, the list of potential suitors is growing for the former Scotland and England Under-21 international.
Who Everton will need to beat to sign Hackney
They reported in December that Everton were interested with Tottenham and Man United now being joined by Leeds United in wanting to sign the box-to-box midfielder with four goals and four assists in the league this season. A £30m price-tag is said to be the figure needed with Hackney approaching the last 12-months of his contract. Even if Middlesborough gain promotion, it is still expected that he will move on from the Riverside with European football likely to be a deciding factor in his decision making.
Everton have a high quality starting XI, the next step is to build depth and give Moyes genuine options when results or performances dip and Hackney has the ability to do just that. In the current climate, £30m for a player who could be on the fringes of the England squad if he impresses in the Premier League, is almost loose change.
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