Everton enquire about signing Juventus defender Koni De Winter, player set to go on pre-season tour
Everton have made an enquiry for Juventus youngster Koni De Winter about a potential summer transfer, according to TuttoJuve.
The 21-year-old defender is the youngest Champions League starter in the club’s history, but spent the 2022/23 season out on loan at Empoli.
He’s now set to go on loan with the first-team for their pre-season tour, but Everton and Ligue 1 club Lille have made their interest in doing a deal known according to a report.
“Koni De Winter (21), who returned from vacation on Wednesday, continues his preparation for Continassa in view of next season,” they wrote (14 July).
“Tuttojuve.com has learned that Everton and Lille have inquired about his situation with him, a survey by two clubs interested in furthering the discussions in the event that the player is included in the starting list.”
Future-proofing
It’s something that Everton probably should have been doing for a long time, but it seems as though Dyche has finally got the club thinking about the future.
Jarrad Branthwaite has returned after an excellent loan spell away at PSV Eindhoven and now looks ready to make a real impact on the first-team going forward, while Ellis Simms has been allowed to leave permanently after being deemed not quite at the required standard.
Obviously the loss of Ishe Samuels-Smith was a blow but there’s little that can be done when Manchester City come calling these days, but the inclusion of players like James Garner, Amadou Onana and Tom Cannon can be seen as the club building for the future.
De Winter isn’t someone who is well known but Juventus know a good defender when they see one, and if they see him as one for the future then that’s a good thing. This is definitely one to keep an eye on.
In other Everton news, this duo have been left in transfer limbo after a shock twist.