David Moyes will be furious with latest Everton transfer development, all thanks to Aston Villa
Everton have had an incredibly quiet start to the January transfer window.
The most notable talking point came when David Moyes recalled Harrison Armstrong from his loan spell at Preston North End in order to cope with the absences in midfield and attack.
The Toffees are aiming to recruit a right-back and a central midfielder, and given recent results against Brentford and Wolves at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Moyes needs more help than ever.
Chairman Dan Friedkin hasn’t thoroughly planned for any new transfers, and Everton have seriously paid the price as a result.
It’s been a frustrating week or so for Moyes, and now a move for Atletico Madrid and former Chelsea midfielder, Conor Gallagher, has just been thrown into jeopardy.
Aston Villa in the mix to sign Conor Gallagher
Gallagher has been linked with a move to Everton as he grows increasingly unhappy over his lack of game time at Atletico Madrid.
At the start of the window, a price tag of £26million was placed on Gallagher, who had also gained interest from the likes of Man United and West Ham.
However, talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook has now reported that Aston Villa have joined the race to secure the midfielder’s services.
| Stat | Gallagher |
| Appearances | 19 |
| Starts | 4 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Pass accuracy | 90.3% |
| Possession won in final third | 7 |
Gallagher has an abundance of experience at the top level, and although he commands a high price, Moyes will be gutted if the 25-year-old doesn’t move to L4.
He has set his sights on getting back into the England squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup, and returning to the Premier League would be hugely beneficial for his career.
However, Villa are third in the Premier League, and can offer him the realistic option of Champions League football for next season.
While they aren’t out of the running yet, Everton certainly aren’t the favourites any more.
It’s a huge blow for the Toffees, and a marquee signing in January could have been perfect to rejuvenate their European ambitions.
What other alternatives could Everton turn to?
Galatasaray star Gabriel Sara’s name is back in the picture after being previously linked with Everton in the summer transfer window.
The Turkish giants have made it clear that only offers that exceed £17.3m (€20m) will be accepted for the 26-year-old, with Fulham and Sunderland are also interested in the former Norwich man.
Another player who could be playing at the Hill Dickinson Stadium is Roma midfielder Eduardo Bove, who is looking for a fresh start after suffering a cardiac arrest on 1 December 2024.
In Italy, players are not allowed to compete in professional sports if they have significant heart problems or an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD).
Everton have already made contact with Bove, and he is in the process of terminating his contract at Roma.
Regardless of who it may be, it looks as though Everton will sign another midfielder before the deadline on 2 February.
However, Moyes won’t be pleased that a deal for Gallagher now looks unlikely.