Fabrizio Romano: Everton reach full agreement with Burnley on £20m Dwight McNeil
Everton have reached “full agreement” with Burnley to bring Dwight McNeil to the club “very soon”, Fabrizio Romano reports.
In stark contrast to the floundering attempts to sign fellow Claret Maxwel Cornet the Toffees have advanced through the stages of a move for the 22-year-old in lightning quick time.
Now, hot on the heels of finally completing a deal for a second summer arrival in the form of Ruben Vinagre on loan from Sporting, the young Burnley winger will follow for a package that could reach £20million.
Writing on his personal Twitter account on Wednesday evening (27 July) Guardian journalist Romano said: “Everton are set to complete Dwight McNeil deal. Full agreement with Burnley, fee could reach £19/20m add-ons included – Lampard trusts him as good talent for present and future.
“EFC Medical ongoing, McNeil will follow Vinagre as new Everton signing very soon.”
Rapid
The Toffees have raced towards a deal for McNeil which will provide a welcome boost to a fanbase that was growing increasingly edgy as the season approached.
The fact that they have also proven they do have some money to spend should also be reassuring, although the hope will have to be that McNeil doesn’t end up joining the long list of signings for whom the money was wasted.
At his age it would seem like a reasonable price assuming he can develop further, but after a definite down year in 2021/22 where he contributed a single assist and saw his side relegated there is a slight risk involved.
The difference between this move and the frustrating attempts to bring his Ivorian international teammate Cornet in appears to be the Clarets willingness to accept the payment in instalments here.
The other deal may yet still happen [Fraser Fletcher], which would be satisfying on some levels but could end up leaving the squad overstocked in wide areas while short in others.
It remains to be seen how the new arrivals impact on the fortunes of the team, but after a sparse transfer window that has been short of good news the fans can at least be glad of two deals in quick succession to lift some of the gloom.