Everton want to sign a player Joe Cole once compared to Lionel Messi
To truly lay down a marker on their European ambitions, Everton must get to work in the January transfer window.
David Moyes has already said where the Toffees must strengthen this month, and that includes a new right-back, central midfielder and centre-forward.
As it stands, Moyes is yet to capture anyone in the first half of the window, but Everton are pushing to sign Zakaria El Ouahdi to fix their lack of depth at right back.
El Ouahdi is keen on a move to the Premier League, despite clubs from the Bundesliga challenging for his signature, and he isn’t the only one mooted with a switch to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
⏪ When Bukayo Saka & Ethan Nwaneri called Per Mertesacker as part of the Premier League’s ‘Inside Matters’ campaign. 📞
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) January 12, 2026
🗣️ “Keep doing what you’re doing, bringing value to other people. Be the best team-mates, in good moments & bad moments.” 🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/yTdaIog6Si
Everton are looking at signing Ethan Nwaneri this month
The Friedkin Group have made funds available for Moyes to sign multiple players, but following the success of Jack Grealish’s move, the Toffees could shop in the loan market.
Everton showed an interest in Arsenal’s Ben White; however, the Gunners have no intention of letting the Englishman leave this month.
According to transfer expert Ben Jacobs, though, the Merseyside outfit have also taken a look at White’s teammate, Ethan Nwaneri, as a possible option to bolster their attacking midfield ranks.
“Fulham could be another option (for Nwaneri) as well. The only real thing putting Fulham off is they want to sign a permanent winger,” Jacobs said on the Highbury Squad YouTube channel.
“Everton have taken a look as well. Sunderland are exploring someone on the right-hand side, but I think they’ll be more a young squad player than a starter.”
| Ethan Nwaneri’s game time | Goals / Assists |
| 2024/25 – 37 appearances, 1378 minutes | 9 goals / 2 assists |
| 2025/26 – 12 appearances, 515 minutes | 1 goal / 0 assists |
Following an exceptional breakout campaign in 2024/25, Nwaneri’s game time has been limited, and the 18-year-old has only made six appearances in the Premier League across 185 minutes.
Mikel Arteta has preferred other options in an attacking midfield role, including summer signing Eberechi Eze and captain Martin Odegaard.
Joe Cole compared Nwaneri to Lionel Messi
Aged just 18, Nwaneri is one of the Premier League’s best young talents, and he deserves to be playing regularly at the highest level.
Combining his low centre of gravity with upper body strength and immense ball-carrying, the Englishman would improve Everton’s fortunes in transition.
Despite his tender age, Nwaneri has also showcased his end product on top of the above attributes, with Joe Cole once comparing the left-footed wizard to Lionel Messi.
“He’s a strong little thing,” Cole said in February 2025.
“You can’t mark him because he can go both ways. These touches he produces in and around the box, I don’t want to say it, but it’s like Messi.
“I don’t want to put any more pressure on the kid’s shoulders, I’m sure he’ll deal with it. He plays with such confidence and he’s a beautiful player.”
Nwaneri has the whole of the footballing world at his feet, and if he seals a loan move to Everton, it’s scary to imagine how good he would be alongside Iliman Ndiaye and Grealish.
Stay up to date this winter with our Everton transfer tracker. Click to see every done deal at Ibrox, plus expert reaction from our team of writers.