Everton update in Harry Maguire race emerges amid West Ham bids for Manchester United defender
Reported interest from Everton in former Manchester United captain is “wide of the mark”, according to BBC Sport.
The broadcaster reported in the 1.32pm update on their website Tuesday (8 August) that since Sean Dyche is “operating on a restricted budget” a move is “way out of reach” thanks to the “significant costs involved”.
A deal is expected to be worth in excess of £30million, while the England international’s wages are believed to be £190,000-a-week at Old Trafford, and he wants to “set his sights higher” than a back-to-back relegation candidate to keep his place in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad.
Everton have been linked to the former Leicester and Hull defender, 30, at various points during the summer, with Miguel Delaney reporting in The Independent late on Monday that the Toffees were “watching” the situation “as they aim to make a move” after West Ham had a £60m double-bid rejected for the centre-back and midfielder Scott McTominay.
Logical
If money were no object at Goodison Park then there might be good reason for Dyche to go after Maguire, who surely needs a move from Manchester United after becoming a lightning rod for criticism.
But money is unfortunately a very big object these days and central defence is far from the biggest priority in the squad.
James Tarkowski, Ben Godfrey, Michael Keane and the returning Jarrad Branthwaite look set to be the rotation for the new season, barring any late-window developments, and aren’t a bad group.
With some notable exceptions last season the defensive record wasn’t the problem as the Toffees battled relegation until the final day, with the 57 goals conceded significantly better than the five teams around them in the table and only six worse than Tottenham up in eighth.
Dyche did pick up Ashley Young to provide cover at full-back but there is a reason he has been after attackers since, as last term’s 34 goals scored was second-worst in the top flight after Wolves (31).
Former Spurs loanee Arnaut Danjuma has come in at the second time of asking for a season-long stint, and the club are on the brink of completing a £15m deal for Youssef Chermiti up front, but whatever money is still available before deadline day surely needs to go towards further attacking reinforcements rather than someone like Maguire.
In other Everton news, a £100m legal threat appears to have been quashed amid transfer developments this summer.