The combined goal total for Everton’s summer acquisition Beto and Dominic Calvert-Lewin in all competitions throughout the first half of the season is just seven. The team’s forwards haven’t been very effective this year.
Instead, they have searched for wide players to contribute, but even in those cases, Sean Dyche’s most frequent duo, Dwight McNeil and Jack Harrison, have failed to produce anything. Dyche may decide to look to the market in quest of a little extra firepower because both players have only scored two goals apiece in the Premier League.
Everton battle several English clubs for Diao
According to Sky Sports, Everton is a fan of Real Betis winger Assane Diao. If they want to bolster their team this month, they would prioritize strengthening the wide areas; the amount they spend will depend on the money they receive from outgoings.
It should be noted that Brentford is rumored to be interested in Diao as well. However, they have another aim in Johan Bakayoko of PSV, whom they attempted to recruit in the summer transfer window.
Every verified Premier League completed deal: January transfer window 2024
Born in Senegal, Diao chose to play for Spain internationally. He made his debut for the under-21 team in October and graduated from the Betis development program. The 18-year-old has accrued eighteen appearances for the first team this season, and started nine of the last 12 league games (Transfermarkt).
Diao would be a major coup
Journalist Dean Jones has described Diao as a “breakout” talent, and this very much has been the season where he’s exploded onto the radar. Only a week after his senior debut away to Rangers, and three weeks on from his 18th birthday, Diao scored on his first start in a 1-1 draw against Granada, becoming the youngest player to find the net in Betis history.
Manuel Pellegrini, the former Manchester City and West Ham boss, rewarded him with his subsequent outings against Valencia in La Liga and Sparta Prague in the Europa League, and he scored in each of those matches too. It was a truly spectacular integration into the first XI, and now it looks like he’s nailing down a spot despite his lack of experience.
Inevitably, this form hasn’t gone unnoticed. According to a report from Spain, Manchester United have identified Diao as one of their main targets for 2024, while it has also been claimed that Chelsea, Newcastle and Everton’s cross-city rival Liverpool have shown an interest too (Sport Witness). Given that three of those teams are members of the established ‘big six’, and the other qualified for this season’s Champions League, this would represent quite a coup for relegation-threatened Everton.
It now remains to be seen how much Betis demand for a player who can certainly be considered a wonderkid, and whether Everton have the means to get a jump-start on their rivals by launching a move this month.
