Here are your Everton evening headlines for Tuesday, September 29.
Everton to rival Leicester for Zouma
Everton are tipped to reignite their interest in Chelsea centre-back Kurt Zouma before the transfer window closes.
The Toffees are in the market for another defender and, according to French outlet Le10Sport , Carlo Ancelotti has identified the 25-year old as a potential target.
Zouma impressed on loan at Goodison Park during the 2018/19 campaign and despite being interested in a permanent move, Everton were unable to complete a deal.
Chelsea are apparently now open to a sale, with Frank Lampard’s side well covered at centre-back following the arrival of Brazilian international Thiago Silva.
Premier League rivals Leicester City could challenge Everton in the race to sign the former Saint-Etienne star, with Chelsea valuing him at around £25million.
Simms to remain at Everton until January
Highly-rated Everton prospect Ellis Simms will not be leaving the club before the end of the current transfer window, according to Under-23 boss David Unsworth.
The 19-year old striker has risen through the Everton youth ranks in the last 12 months, after being promoted to the Under-23 side last season following an impressive 37 goals in 25 games at Under-18 level .
The former Manchester City academy player has been linked with a loan move away from Goodison Park, after an impressive start to the Premier League 2 season, however, Unsworth is clear on the club’s plans for him.
"With the ball, moving forward, creating opportunities and scoring goals, you put a big tick in the box with Ellis but there's more to being a Premier League footballer than scoring goals at youth level.
"You've got to have that work rate and understanding of when to press and when to sit off and help your team.
"These are the finer details we're putting in Ellis.
"He'll get there but there's so much more to come. I have no doubt we'll get there in the end.”
Strong start could transform Everton's season - Osman
Former Blue Leon Osman believes Everton's impressive start to the campaign could transform the club's ambitions for the season.
The Toffees have claimed five wins in five games in all competitions this term, scoring 16 goals in the process. And it's that momentum that Osman, who made more than 350 appearances for Everton, feels can carry the club to new heights in 2020/21.
“Momentum is huge. Carlo Ancelotti mentioned it himself, he feels his side have good momentum and wants to keep feeding into that,” Osman told the ECHO .
“He's right, you look at the momentum Everton were on at the end of last season and it was a negative one, they couldn't shake themselves out of it. With the start of a new season now, new signings, you suddenly have a bounce into the first game and you can take it from there.
“Speaking of momentum, in the 04/05 season we got a bit of it despite being favourites to go down at the beginning. We won two of our first three games, got a little bit of momentum and ended up in the Champions League places!
“Momentum is huge, you ride it while you've got it and you keep positive.”
Ball impressed with Niels Nkounkou impact
Ex-Everton defender Michael Ball has praised summer signing Niels Nkounkou for his solid start to life at the club.
The Blues snapped up the French Under-19 international on a free transfer this summer, after rejecting a contract extension with former side Marseille.
Carlo Ancelotti opted to start the 19-year old in both of Everton’s EFL Cup wins earlier this month, against Salford City and Fleetwood Town, as a rotation option for Lucas Digne at left-back.
The teenager looked steady as he completed 90 minutes in both games, and Ball believes he has a strong future at Everton .
“I think Niels Nkounkou has been absolutely fantastic since his arrival,” he wrote.
“Sometimes young players get involved in first team football and they shrink back into their shell and let their teammates go out and do what they need to do. But that's certainly not the case with Nkounkou.
“He makes football look easy, and that makes it easy for your teammates to know how he is going to get involved in the game.”
