Everton to seal £15m James Justin transfer as Leicester star thought to be keen on move
Everton have emerged as a potential candidate to complete the signing of James Justin this summer.
The right-back was part of the Leicester team that were relegated from the Premier League last time out, but he is undoubtedly a player who would be capable of making an immediate jump back to the top flight.
Everton have now thrown their hat in the ring to potentially sign Justin, as they look to close out the transfer window with a flurry of late moves.
David Moyes has been unhappy with the state of the squad, and the arrival of the Englishman could address a crucial issue within the squad if the Toffees can strike a deal.
This article includes exclusive comment from former Everton scout Bryan King.
Everton need £15m for Justin transfer as Premier League pull may be key
Moyes will have been delighted with his club’s signing of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall earlier this week, but he won’t want to see their summer business stop there.
The Scot has made it perfectly clear that he still needs further backing if he is to lift the team further up the table this term, and he will be keen to ensure that he gets his way before the 1 September deadline.
Justin may not be a glamorous signing, but he could prove to be a crucial piece of the puzzle at the Hill Dickinson Stadium if an agreement can be reached for his transfer.
- Justin already has 99 Premier League appearances under his belt
- He has played in all four tiers of the Football League
- Justin also has experience in both the Europa League and Conference League
Ex-Goodison scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Goodison News – believes that it may take a fee of around £15million for Everton to secure his services, and also adds that the pull of Premier League football could stand them as a favourable option.
“I think (Jake) O’Brien could have a future at right-back, and Justin would certainly be a good option,” King said.
“He can push on a little bit and also play as a left-back. It’s always good to bring in a versatile player.
“I would imagine he’d maybe cost somewhere between £10 and £15m by the going rate today.
“He’ll be wanting to get back into the Premier League as quickly as he can.”
Justin would be a useful addition to the defence
Nathan Patterson has struggled for Everton in pre-season, and that has further reinforced the notion that a new right-back is a must ahead of the new campaign.
O’Brien was adept in his cover there last term, but he isn’t really a natural fit, while Seamus Coleman is unlikely to feature much at all.
If the Toffees could get Justin through the door, it would hand Moyes a player with both the engine and the quality delivery to be a modern-day full-back, and that could unlock another dimension to his side.
They lacked creativity last term, and adding someone like the former Luton man, who could easily get forward and support his winger, would be a shrewd move.
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