Why Everton's bluff is to be called as Hull City lodge formal Tim Iroegbunam offer

Everton finally have a decision to make over Tim Iroegbunam as Hull City have lodged a formal offer for the midfielder.

Recently promoted Hull have been strongly linked with Iroegbunam for a number of weeks.

Tigers boss Sergej Jakirovic has also not shyed away from talking up his interest in the 23-year-old.

Iroegbunam is into the final year of the three-year deal he signed when joining from Aston Villa in 2024.

Everton paid around £9million for the England age-grade international, but they could be set to make a profit.

That is amid a new update shared out of Hull on Thursday afternoon.

How much are Hull willing to pay for Tim Iroegbunam?

Hull quite clearly want Iroegbunam to join them before they begin their Premier League return in a little over a week's time.

And the Humberside club have now taken the formal steps to doing just that.

As per BBC journalist James Hoggarth via X, Hull have submitted a bit in excess of £15m for Iroegbunam, who featured 31 times last season.

That would land Everton a £6m profit on a player who can discuss a free transfer abroad in just six months' time, should he wish.

The ball is now in the Toffees' court, and it is very much a case of the club's - or more specifically David Moyes' - bluff being called.

David Moyes must stick or twist with Iroegbunam

Moyes has repeatedly said over the past year or so how he is seeing signs of improvement from Iroegbunam and how he is enjoying working with him.

Moyes has too often fallen short of overly praising the former Villa ace, however.

“I think Tim has played well at different times for us," he said in December after Everton's clash with Arsenal.

The question is whether Moyes considers Iroegbunam to be a regular starter for the Toffees.

If not, a figure upwards of £15m is surely too much for the Toffees to turn down for a fringe player.

That would be a great shame, but it would at least allow the funds to be reinvested back into the squad.

Now an offer is officially on the table, it is down to Everton and Moyes to decide once and for all what is best for Iroegbunam.