Paul Brown shares Kalvin Phillips to Everton transfer verdict as Sean Dyche admission emerges
Paul Brown has offered his verdict on whether Kalvin Phillips could make the switch to Everton in January, admitting the timing of the move “doesn’t feel amazing”.
The Toffees are reportedly one of the teams interested in signing the England international during the January transfer window, but face competition from Newcastle United, Juventus and Crystal Palace, according to The Telegraph [27 December].
While freelance journalist Brown believes Phillips has the individual ability to improve Sean Dyche’s midfield, he doesn’t think a deal will happen as the Everton boss has discovered a balance in the middle of the park.
As quoted by Give Me Sport (31 December) he said: “Yeah, I’ve always kind of said that I’d love to see Kalvin Phillips play at Everton. I think he would have been ideal for the club and fit right in with the way they are trying to play.
“To do it now seems, if it genuinely is a possibility, the timing doesn’t feel amazing, because I think Sean Dyche is slowly starting to get that midfield sorted.
“He’s slowly starting to find the right balance there already. Phillips clearly is a better player individually than any of the three or four that Everton can use in that engine room.”
Could make a difference
A move for Phillips in January is a transfer that would make a lot of sense for the Toffees for a number of reasons, but it feels incredibly unlikely that this is the sort of deal that will happen at Goodison Park in 2024.
Director of football Kevin Thelwell has all but admitted that it will be a quiet January transfer window on the blue half of Merseyside as Everton continue to navigate financial fair play restrictions and await the result of 777 Partners’ takeover.
Until Everton know where their money is coming from, they don’t have loads to spend and that makes a potential deal for Phillips hard to complete in January. As Brown suggests he is more than good enough, but Dyche weirdly doesn’t need him.
If the Toffees do find some money to spend in January, they have areas of the squad that more desperately need improvement than midfield, such as the forward line and arguably right-back. With limited resources, these have to be prioritised.
In other Everton news, one journalist has branded some of Dyche’s recent comments “absolutely ridiculous” after defeats