Here are your Everton headlines for the evening of Friday August 28.
Toffees urged to move for Palace winger
Darren Bent believes Everton should make a move for Wilfried Zaha this summer to replace Alex Iwobi in Carlo Ancelotti’s starting line-up.
The Toffees targeted Zaha last summer, making a series of bids for the Ivory Coast international, but were left frustrated in their attempts. 12 months later, the player’s future remains up in the air and Bent says Everton should use that to their advantage.
“I think it is (a step up),” Bent told Football Insider when asked whether Everton would be a good place for Zaha. “I know you might look at where they are in the league but I’d say it’s a step up in regards, they have a top manager, he’s going to attract top players.
“For me, Alex Iwobi doesn’t do it for me, his end product’s not good enough, he doesn’t score enough goals, doesn’t create enough goals so he’s not really doing anything. For me, if Zaha can get himself down there and play on the left-hand side with Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Gomes, I really like what they’re doing down there. If I’m Everton, I go for that one 100 per cent.”
Watford ready to make demand as Everton target midfielder
Watford are prepared to ask for a player on loan as part of a deal that could see Abdoulaye Doucoure join Everton this summer.
The 27-year-old is a long-term target for the Goodison Park club having failed to lure him to Merseyside last summer with Watford’s relegation from the Premier League finally opening the door to a deal.
Doucoure is valued by the Hornets at £30million with new manager Vladimir Ivic resigned to losing the midfield in the summer transfer window.
However, Watford could ask for an Everton player on loan in order to get a deal done, with the Vicarage Road outfit keen to strengthen their side as they plot an immediate return to the Premier League.
Everton targets interact with Carlo Ancelotti on social media
Allan and James Rodriguez have set tongues wagging among the Everton support after both players liked an Instagram post shared by Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti.
The Italian posted an image of him leading Everton training to his Instagram account with the caption: “I believe in positive reinforcement. Attitude and commitment are key for performance.”
It didn’t take Everton fans long to notice that Allan and James, both of whom are transfer targets for the Goodison Park outfit this summer, had liked the post from their former manager.
The Echo understands that Everton are indeed interested in the two players, with Ancelotti keen for a reunion after working with them at two of his former clubs, but it's yet to be seen if they will have the finances available to get the deals over the line.
