Why final domino in Everton Kenny Tete pursuit set to fall as 'advanced talks' update drops

Everton are set to see their move for Fulham right-back Kenny Tete accelerate.

David Moyes has been searching for a new right-back all summer long.

With just hours to go in the transfer window, the Everton boss may well have found one.

But seemingly like most deals Everton do, it hasn't proven to be a simple one to complete.

However, with a little help from a club on the continent, the final piece in his Toffees transfer puzzle is about to be placed.

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What needs to happen before Kenny Tete can join Everton?

At the stage of the window we're at, it's rare to see a selling club prepared to commission an exit for a player without getting a replacement first.

Particularly when it comes to a quality defender like Tete, and that's been the case with Fulham.

However, as Telegraph reporter Dominic King claims via X, Andrei Ratiu is ready to leave Rayo Vallecano to join Fulham.

Ratiu is a right-back also, and King reports that the two clubs are now in "advanced talks" over a deal.

As a result, King claims that this will only serve to speed up Tete's Everton transfer, with the Cottagers seeing Ratiu as his replacement.

But what is Tete's one major red flag ahead of his Everton switch?

Having joined Fulham from Lyon in the summer of 2020, Tete has gone on to make 145 competitive appearances for the Cottagers.

This would've been considerably more, however, had the Dutch international not endured recurring struggles with injury.

Indeed, he missed double-figure games for Fulham last season with foot, hamstring and knee problems.

In fact, every season since he moved to Craven Cottage has seen him sidelined for multiple games because of injuries.

Now 30, it remains to be seen whether all those issues will eventually start catching up with Tete in terms of his on-field performance levels.