Everton identify Burnley winger Dwight McNeil as prime target, could use Jonjoe Kenny in offer
Rafa Benitez has identified Burnley winger Dwight McNeil as his “prime target” for Everton this summer, according to the Liverpool Echo.
The new Blues boss wanted to add three wingers to his squad and has set his sights on the 21-year-old Englishman as the final addition after the arrivals of Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray.
They could face stiff competition in the form of Premier League rivals Aston Villa, though, who could come into a lot of money if their talisman Jack Grealish is sold to Manchester City for £100million.
However, Benitez may hold an advantage over Dean Smith in the form of rarely-seen 24-year-old right-back Jonjoe Kenny, who Burnley held talks over in January.
That could “help swing any negotiations in their favour” with a player-plus-cash offer mooted, according to the Liverpool Echo.
A move is unlikely to be imminent, though, with their insiders suggesting the race to sign McNeil, who the Blues value at £25million, will only heat up in the final two weeks of the transfer window.
One in, one out?
McNeil looks ideally suited to this Everton side with his pace and direct running likely to wreak havoc down the left, and his deadly crossing ability should be music to the ears of the aerial colossus that is Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The Blues have lacked real width and quality for years, and McNeil would solve that issue.
He is unlikely to come cheap, though, and we may have to go significantly above the £25million that we currently value him at.
But if we can offer any players in the deal that should help sweeten things and help us to cut costs, however minor.
Kenny is unlikely to cost much given his contract expires in 2022 [Transfermarkt], but it will be worthwhile to get an unwanted player off the wage bill at least.
He looked to have a lot of promise after rising through the ranks at Finch Farm, but ultimately his time at Everton is drawing to an end as we look for a new right-back to compete with Seamus Coleman.
In other Everton news, Richard Keys has issued a thinly-veiled swipe at this Blues man after what he saw online.
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