Assane Diao transfer looks like Tyler Dibling all over again as Everton submit offer

Assane Diao is a player Everton are highly interested in signing, but there are many similarities between the Como star and Tyler Dibling.

The Toffees have reportedly submitted a £38.8million bid for Diao, who is someone the Blues are keen on signing early into the window.

The 20-year-old managed to play just 17 times in Serie A this season under Cesc Fabregas due to injury, but showed high potential throughout last campaign.

David Moyes must be a driving force behind the bid, which will most likely be a big chunk of the Friedkin Group's summer transfer kitty.

However, the near £40m offer will give Evertonians nightmares from when they signed Dibling from Southampton for a huge fee.

Assane Diao has all the makings to be Tyler Dibling 2.0

Dibling cost Everton £40m after signing a long-term contract at Hill Dickinson, but the Toffees are yet to see him properly.

The 20-year-old managed to make just 14 appearances in the Premier League this season, with no goals or assists to his name.

Moyes has been critical of the youngster in press conferences, admitting that he must do more in training to impress him and get into the starting eleven.

So when you factor in Diao is also a right-winger like Dibling, may cost almost £40m, and is also 20 years old, the warning signs are there.

The real issue is that the offer has fallen far short of Como's valuation of the forward, as it's reported that it would cost £64.7m for his signature.

Now that would be an even bigger risk.

Diao is better than Dibling, but the transfer plans don't add up

If Everton do come closer to Como's valuation of Diao, they could reach an agreement, but that would almost certainly push Dibling out of Finch Farm.

Even if the Toffees can't fund a move for the Senegalese forward, the question around the transfer plans has to be asked.

Though Diao scored eight league goals in 15 games during the 2024-25 Serie A season, Everton can't be willing to risk this much money on unproven talent yet again.

If last term was anything to go by, Everton's recruitment should have seen how stubborn Moyes was around the use of young talent.

The priority should be signing Jack Grealish permanently, keeping Iliman Ndiaye at the club with a new deal, before then using the majority of funds to get a new right-back and striker.

The alarm bells are there already, as the similarities between Diao and Dibling are truly scary.