Seamus Coleman played ‘pivotal’ role in Everton summer transfer decision
Chris Beesley has admitted that Seamus Coleman played a “pivotal” role in bringing Jake O’Brien to Everton this summer.
The 23-year-old joined Sean Dyche’s side for a reported £16.9million from Lyon midway through the transfer window [Fabrizio Romano, 29 July] but is yet to make a Premier League start for the Toffees so far this season.
So far, the Blues boss has preferred a partnership of Michael Keane and James Tarkowski and now Liverpool Echo journalist Beesley has suggested it was Coleman who told the Toffees to sign O’Brien.
Speaking on The Royal Blue YouTube channel (16 September, 28:40) he said: “It’s an interesting one because I think Seamus Coleman played a pivotal role in bringing him from what he’d seen of him in the Irish set-up.
“He let it be known that he thought he’d be a good signing for Everton.”
How much did Everton pay for Jake O’Brien transfer?
It has been strange just how little O’Brien has played for the Toffees in the opening weeks of the Premier League season, particularly while Jarrad Branthwaite has been stuck on the treatment table with injury.
The Irish international appeared to have been signed to provide backup for Tarkowski and Branthwaite and in turn push Keane further down the pecking order, however, that has not proven to be the case so far.
Although it would be premature to suggest that Dyche has a lack of faith in the 23-year-old, Beesely’s suggestion that it was Coleman who was keen to bring him to Goodison Park may suggest it wasn’t necessarily the manager’s decision.
Hopefully, O’Brien will be handed a rare opportunity to impress against Southampton in the Carabao Cup clash with Southampton on Tuesday (17 September).
Dyche simply cannot trust Keane to start again after his display against Aston Villa.
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