Nine stories published across the weekend, from the transfer market to a World Cup quarter-final — here’s where everything stands.
Saturday began with an update on Christian Kofane, followed later in the day by Everton joining the chase for Douglas Luiz. Sunday belonged to Jordan Pickford, but there was still transfer business either side of the World Cup quarter-final.
Kofane pursuit stays alive, if not advanced
Everton’s move for Christian Kofane remains at an early stage, but positive talks between the club and the 19-year-old’s agent at Finch Farm on Wednesday kept the Toffees firmly in the driving seat. A formal offer is already in with Bayer Leverkusen, and while competition from elsewhere in the Premier League hasn’t gone away — Bournemouth’s name has been mentioned, albeit complicated by their own need to sell first — Everton’s head start and direct line to the player’s camp still count for something.
A surprise name in midfield
Saturday also brought Everton into the conversation around Douglas Luiz, after Italian reports of a Premier League enquiry to Juventus over the Brazilian’s availability. The Blues weren’t named directly, but the fit is obvious: over 170 Premier League appearances for Aston Villa, comfortable on the ball, and available after a difficult spell in Turin. Whether Everton follow it up remains to be seen.
Pickford makes history, and has to work for it
Jordan Pickford became England’s most-capped World Cup player on Saturday night, starting his 18th tournament match — past Peter Shilton’s old record — as England beat Norway 2-1 after extra time in Miami to reach the semi-final. It wasn’t a tidy night by his own standards.
He was beaten by Andreas Schjelderup’s low finish for the opener and marked down by BBC Sport for an “uncertain performance,” though he recovered with important saves against Alexander Sorloth and Erling Haaland either side of Jude Bellingham’s double.
England now face Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday, with Pickford’s tracker updated to reflect it — Everton’s last man standing in the tournament, and a clean sheet added to his collection along the way.
Murphy emerges as an option
Sunday brought a new name into Everton’s thinking, with Sky Sports reporting genuine interest in Newcastle’s Jacob Murphy. The 31-year-old has a year left on his contract at St James’ Park and could be allowed to leave as the Magpies continue their own summer overhaul.
No formal offer yet, but Murphy would offer experienced Premier League know-how alongside the younger additions David Moyes has already made in Hayden Hackney and Tyrique George.
Everton’s number on Grealish
And the weekend closed with the clearest indication yet of where Everton stand on Jack Grealish. Football Insider reported the club are only willing to pay between £5m and £10m for a permanent deal, well short of Manchester City’s £50m option-to-buy figure — a drop even from the £15m-£20m region previously discussed.
Grealish remains keen on Merseyside and has continued his rehabilitation at Finch Farm despite his loan technically expiring, but the gap between the two valuations is still the obstacle standing between here and a deal getting done.
