Everton eye Matt O’Riley hijack as personal terms agreed in principle
Everton have emerged as a potential candidate to secure the signing of Matt O’Riley.
The Brighton midfielder only moved to the South Coast last summer, but he could already be about to head elsewhere before the 1 September transfer deadline.
David Moyes has recently expressed his frustration surrounding Everton’s transfer window so far, and that appears to have caused them to spring into life over the last week or so.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s arrival from Chelsea was confirmed, while the Toffees also have several other moves that are firmly in the pipeline.
Everton keen on O’Riley despite Juventus agreement
Everton appear to be within touching distance of signing Jack Grealish, with the England international set to undergo a medical on Monday (11 August) ahead of a loan move.
The Toffees have made great strides in recent days to put themselves on the verge of landing the 29-year-old, and they are now lining up another deal which would add proven Premier League quality to their ranks.
Moyes and Co. are understood to have their eye on O’Riley, even though he has already agreed personal terms with Juventus, according to Tutto Sport.
- O’Riley was limited to just 11 starts in the Premier League at Brighton last term
- He previously notched 18 goals and 13 assists for Celtic in the 2023/24 campaign
- His Juventus agreement could see him earn around £2.5million per year in wages
The Italian giants have reached an agreement in principle that would see the Danish international pen a five-year deal in Turin.
However, it is also noted that there is still Premier League interest in the midfielder, who is said to be “especially liked” by Everton.
Sunderland and Nottingham Forest have also made contact about his availability, but it appears that the Toffees are keen to try and hijack the Juventus switch.
O’Riley would add depth to Everton’s midfield
Dewsbury-Hall’s arrival is certainly a major boost for Everton, but they still need to find a way of adding more creativity to the side.
The Merseysiders struggled to create clear-cut opportunities last term, and that will simply have to change if they are to have any hope of climbing the Premier League table this time around.
| Stats | Everton Total | League Rank |
| Goals Scored | 42 | 17th |
| xG | 42.4 | 17th |
| Shots on Target per game | 3.8 | =16th |
| Big Chances Created | 77 | 15th |
| Touches in Opposition Box | 775 | 16th |
O’Riley had issues with injuries in his first season with the Seagulls, but has since excelled in pre-season.
Moyes will be hopeful that he will be able to help the Dane rediscover his scintillating form from his days at Celtic if he can convince him to move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The prospect of a switch to Juventus is clearly an attractive option for the 24-year-old, and as a result, Everton will have to move quickly and decisively if they are serious about a possible hijack.
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