Everton are reportedly preparing to make a move for one former Arsenal forward who West Ham are huge admirers of.
David Moyes set for Everton backing this summer
Something has shifted at the Hill Dickinson Stadium this season and everyone can feel it.
Everton, for so long the Premier League's great underachiever weighed down by financial chaos and the dead hand of the Moshiri era, are eighth in the table and within touching distance of a European place.
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The Friedkin Group's arrival has injected genuine ambition into the club, and the stadium itself — the first season at their stunning new home — has given the whole operation an energy that has been missing for years.
David Moyes has responded with Everton's best campaign in some time.
Thierno Barry — a £27m summer recruit — has contributed six Premier League goals. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been a consistent presence in midfield. And Jack Grealish, on loan from Man City, was transforming the attacking play before a stress fracture in his foot ended his season prematurely in January.
Everton's manager David Moyes during the warm up before the match Related
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Despite that blow, the Toffees have stayed in contention for a European push that would have felt fantastical a year ago.
Now, with the summer window approaching, planning is well underway — and the list of targets being compiled is reportedly an ambitious one.
Liam Delap, who chose Chelsea over Everton last summer, remains firmly on the radar.
The club is allegedly exploring a permanent deal for Grealish too, hoping his injury brings the asking price down from City's lofty wage demands.
Jack Grealish and Everton manager David Moyes
Harry Wilson, Fulham's impressive winger heading into a free transfer, is also admired by Moyes.
Ben White, Dwight McNeil's likely exit opening a wide berth, and a new left-back to provide competition for Mykolenko are all apparently on the agenda as well, according to recent reports.
And now a further name has emerged — one that carries significant intrigue.
Everton preparing 'concrete' move for Folarin Balogun
SportsBoom report that Everton are among the clubs preparing to make 'concrete steps' for Monaco striker Folarin Balogun.
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It is worth noting that the 24-year-old is in the form of his life.
The American forward — a product of Arsenal's academy who moved to Ligue 1 for around £30m in 2023 — has scored in each of his last five league appearances, including a goal in Monaco's win away at Lyon.
The pace and predatory instinct that always made him an exciting prospect has developed into something more consistent and reliable in the south of France, and Premier League clubs are taking notice.
Everton and West Ham are both understood to be readying serious approaches for Balogun.
For West Ham, survival in the top flight is a prerequisite for any such move, even if they're massive fans of his pace and poacher's instincts.
Everton, by contrast, have the stability — and increasingly the ambition — to push hard regardless.
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The timing matters.
Balogun is expected to be a key figure for the United States at this summer's World Cup, hosted on home soil. A strong tournament would elevate his profile enormously and push his price even higher.
Clubs that wait could end up paying a significant premium — giving those who move before June a clear financial advantage.
Monaco are not keen to sell.
They regard Balogun as indispensable and have him tied down until 2028, meaning they dictate the terms entirely.
Their valuation is understood to be in the region of £38-46 million, comfortably above the £30m they spent to bring him to the principality.
It is a significant outlay, but for an Everton operation that has already demonstrated a willingness to spend and back their manager, it is not outside the realms of possibility.
Former player, manager and TV pundit Wayne Rooney inside the stadium before the match Related
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