- Everton have until June 30 to negotiate a permanent George deal with Chelsea
- Chelsea’s option is set at around £22m — and Everton want to bring that down
- Newcastle, flush with Gordon’s £70m Barcelona fee, are watching closely
On the face of it, this looks fairly straightforward. Everton liked Tyrique George. Moyes said so publicly. The fans warmed to him. He fits the profile the Friedkin Group want – young, direct, years of development ahead. Just trigger the option and get it done.
Yet it’s not quite that simple. It rarely is.
According to TEAMtalk, Everton have an option to buy George permanently, believed to be set at around £22m. But rather than triggering it, they are actively trying to negotiate Chelsea down – either on the overall fee or through a structured payment arrangement. That suggests they believe the number feels high for a player who started one Premier League game all season.
What Everton actually saw up close
The loan spell was not a disaster though. Far from it. George arrived in January as emergency cover after Grealish’s foot injury, made 11 appearances, showed genuine pace and directness, and left a good impression on the people around him.
Moyes was clear enough. “We like Tyrique,” he said after the Brentford cameo in April. “He’s been an excellent boy, and his work rate has been excellent.” That felt telling at the time. Managers don’t tend to big up players they intend to wave off.
And crucially, Everton have something Newcastle do not – they have actually worked with him. They know his attitude, how he trains, how he handles the moments when game time is in short supply.
George handled it well. “I’m loving it as an Everton player,” he said in his own words during the loan. “The fans are top. I want to play for them.” That kind of stuff matters when you are trying to build a dressing room.
But Newcastle have just sold Gordon for £70m — and they need a winger
But here is where it gets a little uncomfortable. Newcastle sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona this summer for £70m. Eddie Howe needs to spend that money to strengthen his attacking options, and Tyrique George – young, Premier League-ready, available for around £22m – is exactly the profile they would go for.
The Toon have a specific hole to fill and the budget to fill it.
If Everton’s attempt to negotiate with Chelsea drags on too long, they may find that the window closes on them. Chelsea, who have George under contract until next summer, have little incentive to offer ‘mates rates’ if another serious buyer is circling. The deadline is June 30. The leverage shifts a little more each day.
George might not become the complete answer to Everton’s wide problems. But at a lower fee, with what Moyes already knows about him, he is definitely a reasonable option. The question is whether Everton can get Chelsea to move – and whether they can do so before Newcastle stop watching and start bidding.
