John Textor involved in deal as Everton close in on new signing

Everton are close to signing Lyon midfielder Orel Mangala on loan with John Textor involved, according to Sacha Tavolieri.

The Belgian journalist posted on X (27 August) to report that Textor is set to make a first piece of transfer business between clubs in his orbit with Mangala on the verge of a season-long loan to Goodison Park.

Lyon, owned outright by Textor, are confident in completing a deal to send the former Nottingham Forest midfielder back to the Premier League with the Blues, with Mangala not in manager Pierre Sage's plans.

Textor is in pole position to complete a takeover from Farhad Moshiri on Merseyside, but he must first sell his 45 per cent stake in fellow top-flight side Crystal Palace to complete the deal [Paul Brown, 9 August].

Orel Mangala loan could be sign of things to come for Everton

Mangala heading to Goodison Park on loan this season will not only help to fill the void left by compatriot Amadou Onana's £50million move to Aston Villa, but could also be the start of a burgeoning relationship.

The Toffees and Lyon have already done business this summer with the £16.9m signing of Irish centre-back Jake O'Brien, but that was before Textor re-emerged outright as the club's potential new owner.

Lyon and Everton exchanging players could be seen as controversial as part of a multi-club model, but given Textor is yet to formalise his takeover at Goodison, this move should go through without a hitch.

Further arrivals as the transfer deadline nears did look unlikely due to the Blues' budgetary issues [The Athletic, 9 August], but loans for the likes of Mangala, who has previous Premier League experience, could provide a reprieve.

Textr's takeover will rumble along in the background, as the talks with 777 Partners and Dan Friedkin did previously, but if it smooths the path for Mangala's arrival, Sean Dyche will be glad to have him on board.

In other Everton news, an international player in the Toffees’ academy could make a ‘surprise’ transfer before the window shuts.

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