Who Everton's big right-back transfer target was as deadline-busting deal blocked

Everton tried for a new right-back target earlier on this transfer deadline day.

David Moyes has been scouring the market for a player in this position all summer.

Multiple targets have slipped through Everton's fingers for a variety of reasons.

However, as Tuesday's 11pm deadline moves closer, the Toffees are finally set to land one.

But there is another player who Everton would appear to have preferred to be welcoming to Hill Dickinson Stadium.

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Who is the Ligue 1 star Everton had Tuesday transfer move vetoed for?

Everton have reportedly agreed a last-minute £4.2million deal to sign Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Lyon.

The 29-year-old ex-Arsenal right-back is set to fly over to complete his Toffees transfer before the deadline.

But there is another player from across the English Channel that Everton reportedly had higher on their transfer wishlist than the Englishman.

Monaco Matin claim that Everton expressed an interest in signing Monaco star Jordan Teze on Tuesday.

They claim the Toffees were keen to sign the 26-year-old on a loan deal, however Monaco chiefs blocked the deal.

The report states that this was done due to their unwillingness to loan out a versatile player such as Teze, who could yet have a big role to play for them this term.

But just how versatile is Teze, and would he have been a more exciting signing than Maitland-Niles?

All the positions Teze could've played for Everton

In the prime of his career and having only ever played for PSV Eindhoven and Monaco, Teze has proven himself to be a quality player in Europe.

A four-cap Netherlands international, he's been with Monaco since the summer of 2024 and has turned out 67 times for the French side.

As illustrated via his FotMob profile, Teze can play in defensive midfield, central midfield, centre-back, right-back, right wing-back and as a right midfielder.

Maitland-Niles can play anywhere down the right flank, but having a player like Teze who could fill in pretty much anywhere would've been very useful to Moyes.

Given he's three years younger too, many Evertonians may well feel as though the Monaco man would've been the better signing then.