- Everton’s third Hackney bid is coming — and this one has to land
- Ndiaye’s agent is already making calls, and that changes everything
- Gueye is likely gone, Wilson is in play and the World Cup starts now
It has been a busy morning at ReadEverton. Here is everything that matters heading into this afternoon, plus a couple of threads that deserve your attention.
Hackney: The third bid has to count
The headline story of the day. Everton are preparing a third offer for Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney after bids of £12m and £15m were both knocked back. Crystal Palace are now preparing their own offer, believed to be closer to £20m, and can offer him European football next season.
The one thing Everton still have is the player’s preference – Hackney wants to come to the Hill Dickinson. But that advantage has a shelf life, and Boro are not going to wait around forever. The third bid needs to be the right one. We covered it in full this morning.
Ndiaye: The story has moved into new territory
Football Insider reported this morning that Ndiaye’s agent is already speaking to interested clubs. That is not the same story as a contract standoff. An agent working the phones is a camp that has already decided where it wants to go – and is quietly laying the groundwork to get there.
With the World Cup starting and Ndiaye about to perform in front of every serious club in European football, Everton’s window to resolve this is shorter than it looks. We covered the full picture this morning.
Gueye may be off — and that makes Hackney non-negotiable
Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness told Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast yesterday that he does not expect Gueye’s contract to be extended. “I think that may be the one area that we see a move to bring youth into place,” he said.
The 36-year-old never triggered the extension clause in his deal – he did not make enough Premier League starts this season – and talks have quietly stalled. Letting Gueye go and signing Hackney are not two separate decisions. They are the same one, told in two parts. We explained why this morning.
Wan-Bissaka: The sensible one nobody is talking about
Amid all the noise around Hackney and Ndiaye, Everton’s pursuit of Aaron Wan-Bissaka has not gone away. The Telegraph reported that Moyes wants the 28-year-old West Ham right-back in a deal worth around £10m.
With Seamus Coleman retired and Jake O’Brien having filled in at right-back for much of last season, this is a position that genuinely needs addressing. West Ham need to raise significant funds following relegation, which makes Wan-Bissaka available at a sensible price. Not the most glamorous signing Everton could make this summer. Might be one of the most useful.
Wilson: Not quite the straightforward free transfer it looked
Everton have opened talks with Harry Wilson’s representatives — but this one is more complicated than it first appeared. Fulham have offered Wilson a new contract after a career-best season in which he scored 10 goals and contributed 16 goal involvements in the Premier League.
He is weighing up his options, with Aston Villa also in the mix. Marco Silva’s departure to Benfica may prove decisive – Wilson’s relationship with his manager was cited as a key reason he might stay, and that reason has now gone. One to watch rather than bank on, but at potentially no fee, Everton would be daft not to stay close.
And finally — the World Cup starts here for Everton’s players
The tournament is already underway and Everton’s contingent are about to get involved. Nathan Patterson and Scotland face Haiti tonight at 2am BST – an awkward kick-off time but Scotland’s first World Cup outing in 28 years.
Pickford and England get their campaign started on Wednesday evening when they face Croatia in Dallas at 9pm BST.
Ndiaye and Gueye both represent Senegal, who open their Group I campaign against France on Tuesday June 16 at 8pm BST in New Jersey – a significant test straight away against one of the tournament favourites.
Whatever the summer brings for all three of them at club level, the next few weeks on the world stage could change the picture considerably. We will have full coverage throughout.
