Everton are reportedly interested in Leeds United target Tyler Adams.
What’s the word?
That’s according to respected journalist Ben Jacobs, who told Twitter last night that Adams is keen on a move to the Premier League.
Whilst he does now prefer a move to Elland Road, both Everton and Sevilla are noted as interested parties. The midfielder is after first-team assurances as the World Cup approaches.
In full, Jacobs said: "Tyler Adams really wants a loan move to Leeds. He's already spoken to Jesse Marsch, who wants another midfielder despite landing Marc Roca. Leipzig open to a deal after Xaver Schlager's arrival. Adams needs game time ahead of the World Cup. Everton and Sevilla also interested."
Imagine him and Gallagher
Frank Lampard and Kevin Thelwell will certainly be looking to revamp the Toffees' squad, especially with the departure of his talisman Richarlison for a fee rising to £60m.
He could start this rebuild from midfield, however, by signing not only Adams but Conor Gallagher too, who impressed last season on loan at Crystal Palace and has been linked with a move to Goodison Park.
If these two were to join up, they would provide perfect midfield balance, offering tenacity, tough-tackling and the ability to drive the team up the pitch. Last season Gallagher scored eight and assisted three from central midfield, and earned huge plaudits for his relentlessness in the middle of the park.
This, combined with the American international, who ranks in the 98th percentile for blocks and averages 22.53 pressures per 90 would ensure that opposition midfielders would not be afforded a minute's peace.
The 23-year-old also averaged a 7.40 SofaScore rating in the DFB Pokal as RB Leipzig went on to win the competition. Lampard could use some of that domestic cup form to potentially propel Everton to a first major honour since 1995.
It is therefore unsurprising to see his former boss and current Leeds head coach Jesse Marsch dub him a “special talent” and claim that “the ceiling is massive for him, everyone can see that."
To steal the gritty midfielder, who has been valued at £13m, from those who were relegation rivals last season would be an early victory in the mental battle for the upcoming season.
If both he and Gallagher could be tempted to Goodison Park, then Everton may be quick to forget the departure of Richarlison as this midfield pairing of Adams and Gallagher could see the Toffees way surpass their performances of recent years.
AND, in other news: Everton plotting no-brainer move for “unique” £80k-p/w machine, Lampard would love him.