---
title: "Today’s Everton news round-up & talking points — Monday 20th July"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/everton-news-roundup-talking-points-20-july/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Gary Gowers"
section: "Everton News"
published: "2026-07-20T18:00:00Z"
modified: "2026-07-20T18:00:00Z"
---

# Today’s Everton news round-up & talking points — Monday 20th July

**Seven stories through Monday have covered football and one genuinely unusual first for the club. Here’s everything published today, and what it adds up to** **for our Everton news round-up:**

### A Toffee at No.10

The day’s most unusual story broke this afternoon: [Everton congratulated lifelong supporter Andy Burnham](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/20/andy-burnham-everton-prime-minister-congratulations/) after he formally became Prime Minister, succeeding Keir Starmer following an audience with the King. The club highlighted Burnham’s long record as a Hillsborough Law campaigner and his support for local causes on Merseyside.

Not football news in the traditional sense, but a first [Everton](https://readeverton.com/) season-ticket holder in Downing Street is worth noting.

### Right-back is still the issue

The day started with Saturday’s [4-0 win at Dundee](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/20/everton-right-back-problem-dundee-friendly-patterson-branthwaite/) under fresh scrutiny. Comfortable on the scoreboard, but with Nathan Patterson still away and Jarrad Branthwaite being managed carefully, David Moyes had to use midfielder Merlin Rohl at right-back. It’s the thread running through much of today’s other transfer news.

### A target lost to Ipswich

That backdrop made [missing out on Abdul Fatawu](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/20/everton-fatawu-ipswich-20m-transfer-missed-out/) sting more than it otherwise might. Ipswich Town have verbally agreed a £20million deal for the Leicester winger, a player Everton were tracking at the same valuation. Claims last week that personal terms had already been agreed with Everton now look premature.

### Ndiaye’s situation drags on

[Iliman Ndiaye’s contract stand-off](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/20/everton-ndiaye-contract-stand-off-release-clause-return/) shows no sign of moving. He’s expected back at Finch Farm shortly after Senegal’s World Cup exit, but the release-clause dispute that’s run since the start of the year remains unresolved.

### Two City targets, one loan-rule problem

Moyes is understood to be personally driving a £30million move for [Manchester City’s Rico Lewis](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/20/everton-rico-lewis-jack-grealish-man-city-double/), who’d solve the right-back issue directly.

The complication: Everton also want Jack Grealish back on loan, and Premier League rules block a club from loaning two players from the same parent club in one window.

### Roma’s ownership tie complicates another chase

Everton’s interest in Genk right-back Zakaria El Ouahdi has taken an awkward turn, with [Friedkin Group sister club Roma also prioritising him](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/20/everton-el-ouahdi-roma-friedkin-group-genk/). Two clubs under one ownership group, chasing the same player — an unusual dynamic worth watching as talks continue.

### Tracker refreshed

Finally, the [summer transfer tracker](https://readeverton.com/2026/07/20/everton-2026-summer-transfer-tracker-every-deal-live/) was updated to reflect all of the above, plus confirmation that Everton have an agreement in principle with Villarreal for midfielder Pape Gueye — a deal that had somehow gone untracked until today.

### What it adds up to

Four of today’s seven stories trace back to the same unresolved right-back position, one shows what happens when Everton lose a race, and the tracker update reveals a deal further along than anyone realised.

Add in the Burnham news, and it’s been a fairly eventful Monday.