Everton eye Jens Cajuste deal after Brentford collapse amid Man City talks for Kalvin Phillips
Everton are interested in signing Jens Cajuste after his move to Brentford collapsed, according to TEAMtalk.
The outlet reported via their website on 13 August that the Napoli midfielder is a potential target for the Toffees as an alternative for Kalvin Phillips as the clubs have a good relationship.
Talks are said to have been held with Manchester City in the past few days over a deal for the England international, who Sean Dyche is “very keen” on.
But Cajuste, 25, has now emerged as another possibility after the Evening Standard reported earlier on 13 August his £10million switch to the Bees “hit the buffers”.
Antonio Conte has reportedly told the Swedish international he can leave just a year after signing for the Italian giants, with a loan and obligation to buy lined up before the deal fell through in West London.
Jens Cajuste could follow Jesper Lindstrom to Everton from Napoli
Phillips certainly looks to be Dyche’s priority to bolster the central midfield after Amadou Onana left for Aston Villa.
City are now said to be willing to loan him out again after his temporary move to West Ham last season, and he has ignored offers to go abroad as he wants to stay in the Premier League [Times, 13 August].
But the Toffees need to have contingency plans since Fulham and Ipswich have also both enquired about the former Leeds United star [i News, 12 August].
Cajuste might be interested in a Goodison Park switch after seeing Napoli teammate Jesper Lindstrom make the move in very similar circumstances.
Both joined the then-Serie A champions last summer only to become surplus to requirements when ex-Chelsea boss Conte arrived at the end of a chaotic campaign.
The former Stade Reims and Midtjylland man has 23 Sweden caps and managed to make 35 appearances in all competitions in Italy last term.
A loan-to-buy with a similar permanent fee that Brentford were working on might be attractive in case of financial concerns after the takeover collapse, although whatever complications have brought his Bees move down might come into play.
Coming from Serie A he would fill the second international loan slot rather than the domestic one, potentially leaving the door open for Armando Broja from Chelsea should Dominic Calvert-Lewin suddenly be sold, with the Albanian said to be keen to join.
In other Everton news, an exit update has emerged after the Toffees put a pair of first-team players up for transfer.
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