Everton

Everton on Sunday completed the signing of Juventus striker Moise Kean, who has signed a five-year contract with Marco Silva's team.

The Toffees announced Kean's arrival via their official website, and their new signing said:

"I am very proud and honoured to wear the Everton shirt. I will give my best to this team. 

"I was convinced to sign because Everton is a club looking to the future and so am I. I know about the size of the Club. It has big ambition and I will work very hard to help us fulfil what we want to achieve.

"I am used to winning and I want to bring this winning attitude to the team. I hope I will be very good on the field and bring the fans joy."

🇮🇹 | The Italian: Job done! ✅ pic.twitter.com/cTag5mL9yC

— Everton (@Everton) August 4, 2019

The striker had an impressive goalscoring record during his time in Italian football:

More to come ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/iTJFWf1tWe

— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 4, 2019

The Times' Paul Joyce wrote on Friday that Everton had agreed a price of around £30 million with Juventus for the 19-year-old.

Kean made his Bianconeri debut in November 2016 and became the first player born in the 2000s to score in one of Europe's top five leagues.

He was given more responsibilities in Massimiliano Allegri's side last term and scored seven times in 17 appearances for the Scudetto winners, not to mention making his senior Italy debut in November 2018.

Serie A recently paid tribute to the youngster following his breakout season in Italy's top flight:

Kean has scored twice in his first three senior appearances for Italy and is Everton's fifth signing of the summer following the arrivals of Andre Gomes, Fabian Delph, Jonas Lossl and Sebastian Kristensen.

The forward's father, Biorou Jean Kean, recently told Omnisport he prevented his son from joining Manchester United when he was "14 or 15" years of age (h/t Goal):

Moise Kean was heading to Man United, until his father intervened 😱 pic.twitter.com/PO0P1JDtmU

— GOAL (@goal) August 1, 2019

Everton sold striker Romelu Lukaku to United in 2017 and have since struggled to replace his presence in attack. 

Silva has tried Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison up top, while Turkish striker Cenk Tosun also made 10 league starts last season.

The Portuguese tactician will be hopeful Kean will be ready to face Crystal Palace in their Premier League opener on Saturday.

Everton and Juventus have reportedly agreed on a deal that will send Moise Kean to the Premier League outfit subject to a medical.

Football journalist Fabrizio Romano reported as much on Twitter:

Moise Kean to Everton, here we go! Total agreement reached with Juventus, last details will be completed on next hours. The striker will fly to UK tomorrow to undergo his medicals and sign the contract. 🔵 #transfers #Everton #Juve

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 30, 2019

According to Football Italia, the striker's agent, Mino Raiola, relayed the news, with Kean set to join the Toffees for an initial €30 million (£27.5 million) and a further €10 million (£9.1 million) in potential add-ons.

It's claimed Juventus are insisting that a buy-back clause is inserted into his contract.

Bleacher Report's Matt Jones and football writer Daniel Storey are both eager to see how he fares at Goodison Park:

https://twitter.com/MattJFootball/status/1156158059053486081

I think Moise Kean to Everton would jump to the top of my list of exciting Premier League transfers this summer. Not that it definitely works out, but that it will be bloody fun finding out.

— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) July 30, 2019

The 19-year-old, who played in the UEFA Champions League at the age of 16, made 17 appearances for Juve last season.

During his 661 minutes on the pitch, he scored seven goals and laid on an assist—a direct goal contribution every 83 minutes.

His goals included a late winner against AC Milan:

Moise Kean, the future of Italian Calcio 👌 #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/ynPLuKp3z4

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) April 8, 2019

Kean's form earned him his first three senior appearances for Italy, and he has already scored twice for the Azzurri against Finland and Liechtenstein in UEFA European Championship 2020 qualifiers.

Everton scored 54 goals in the Premier League last season. Outside the top six, only Bournemouth netted more.

However, winger Richarlison and midfield playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson shouldered most of the goalscoring burden. Centre-forwards Cenk Tosun and Dominic Calvert-Lewin only managed three and six league goals, respectively.

Kean does not yet have a full season of regular first-team football under his belt, but he's a precocious talent with enormous potential.

He could have a significant impact at Everton in the coming years, and if he does, Juve will be able to bring him back when they're able to give him the time on the pitch that he needs—provided the buy-back clause is worked into the deal.

Everton are reportedly in talks to sign Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha and will bid around £60 million, amid rumours Arsenal and Chelsea are each interested in the player. 

Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol tweeted about Everton's involvement in the Zaha saga, specifying the £60 million figure included a player moving to Selhurst Park in return:

Everton in talks to sign Wilfried Zaha from Crystal Palace. Will make bid worth in region of £60m which includes player going to Palace from Everton. Zaha keen for new challenge. His preference is to stay in London but would consider move back to NW

— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) July 26, 2019

The Telegraph's Matt Law wrote striker Cenk Tosun is the player Everton want to send in part-exchange, noting the Toffees' bid is much greater than Arsenal's previous £40 million offer for Zaha.

The Eagles star previously spent an unsuccessful two-year spell at Manchester United. Zaha moved to Old Trafford in January 2013 but made only four senior appearances for United and spent half his stint on loan back at Selhurst Park and with Cardiff City.

Former Palace and Blackpool manager Ian Holloway recently appeared on TalkSport and said Zaha deserves to play at the elite level:

“Zaha needs to be at a top, top club and if not stay where you’re loved.” ♥️

“He’ll win games at the very top.” 👊

“If Bale is surplus to requirements in Madrid why don’t Real get Zaha?” 👀

Ian Holloway says Zaha is too good to join #Everton.@SportsBreakfast x @ArnoldClark pic.twitter.com/FUJv5W5kpe

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) July 26, 2019

Per Law's report, Chelsea are banned from registering new players during the next two transfer windows (including this one). The Blues have appealed their suspension to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and it's understood they hope to sign Zaha next summer if he remains at Palace this season.

A move to west London could be the right fit for the player. Eden Hazard recently joined Real Madrid to vacate their left wing and Pedro—who turns 32 on Sunday—is in the final year of his contract.

Law also specified Palace are seeking £80 million for their star, leaving Everton's offer some way short of that valuation.

Off The Ball recently discussed Everton's introduction to the Zaha situation, saying it would be an indictment of Arsenal if they lost this transfer battle:

Can Everton finish higher than Arsenal this season?

They are hoping to beat them in the race to sign Zaha 👀 #OTBAM

Here's the latest #TransferNews ➡️ https://t.co/UfRhP7MQZq pic.twitter.com/6GlXrFXqRJ

— Off The Ball (@offtheball) July 25, 2019

Zaha scored 10 goals and recorded five assists in 34 Premier League starts last season. He more recently scored twice and made one assist for Ivory Coast during their run to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals, where they lost on penalties to eventual champions Algeria.

The Gunners finished fifth in the Premier League in their maiden season under manager Unai Emery, just missing out on UEFA Champions League qualification. Marco Silva's Toffees ended the campaign in eighth—only five points ahead of Palace—and are unable to offer European football this term.

Everton look like the most serious admirers as things stand, however, and Arsenal's lack of transfer initiative could see them miss out on a long-term target unless they respond.

Everton have completed the signing of Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes on a five-year contract in a deal worth £22 million.

The Toffees announced the transfer on Tuesday via their official website, and Gomes told Everton TV of his joy to return to Goodison Park on permanent terms after a successful loan last season:

“I'm really happy to sign the contract with Everton⁠—it wasn't hard to decide, it was an easy decision and I'm very happy to have made it.

“I know the club made a massive effort to sign me and I'm very happy and thankful to them. I said during the year that I felt part of a family and that is the most important thing to me.

“Last year was a really good experience for me. I just wanted to feel part of something special and I found it here. It was good for me in that moment and right now, after signing for Everton, it's even better."

The 25-year-old scored once and recorded two assists in 29 appearances for Everton last term, helping Marco Silva's side finish eighth in the Premier League and narrowly miss out on European qualification.

Gomes—capped 29 times for Portugal—has left the Camp Nou after making a total of 78 appearances for Barcelona, winning one La Liga title, two Copa del Rey crowns and one Spanish Super Cup.

Sportswriter Andy West highlighted the playmaker's lack of charisma as being one of the biggest reasons behind his failure to sparkle in Catalonia:

Shame Andre Gomes never made it with Barça. Has all the talent in the world and a likeable guy but not a big enough personality to succeed at Camp Nou. Struggled to find balance between expressing himself/servicing others (esp Messi). Hopefully he will grow mentally at Everton. https://t.co/xSMS62StKg

— Andy West (@andywest01) June 25, 2019

Barcelona paid Valencia a reported €35 million to sign Gomes in July 2016, with another potential €35 million in add-ons agreed as part of the deal. 

That fee was a sign of his promise after winning the 2016 UEFA European Championship, and Everton will hope their signing can still prove he's worth that kind of money in the right setting.

Sports Witness suggested the transfer could prove a steal for the Merseysiders:

Andre Gomes for €25m, in this market, is not a bad deal at all.

Everton played that well.

— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) June 25, 2019

Everton begin their pre-season tour against Kariobangi Sharks in Nairobi on July 7, when Gomes could have the opportunity to take the first steps in this next chapter of his Everton career.

Richarlison has reiterated his happiness at Everton amid rumours linking him with Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid.

Per MailOnline's Joe Strange, the Brazilian has been linked with the three giants this summer, but he's not considering a move so soon after his arrival at Goodison Park.

He told FourFourTwo (h/t Strange): "It's a nice feeling when you get praise for your good work, but I'm not thinking about a transfer at the moment. I've just arrived at Everton. I'm happy here."

Richarlison only joined Everton last year in an initial £35 million deal that could rise to £50 million with add-ons.

The winger, who can play on either flank or as a centre-forward, took to Twitter to assure fans he was content at the club in April:

I'm happy pic.twitter.com/SwQah02hLT

— Richarlison Andrade (@richarlison97) April 4, 2019

Richarlison enjoyed a strong first season with the Toffees and contributed 14 goals and an assist in all competitions.

Dominic King of the Daily Mail is excited by his presence in a promising Everton team:

There's promise of an excellent Everton side emerging here. Richarlison, just 21 and 14 goals from midfield. Bernard, Lucas Digne, Michael Keane all going to be around for a long time. Fixtures that were torture to watch 12 months ago are being made to look easy 🔵

— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) May 3, 2019

As well as his return in front of goal, Richarlison has also added pace, work ethic and a little flair to the side.

Thanks to his domestic efforts this season, he was selected in Brazil's squad for the Copa America.

He impressed AS' Robbie Dunne during a 1-1 draw with Panama in the last international break:

Richarlison the perfect blend of angry and aggressive and technically excellent and direct.

— Robbie Dunne (@robbiejdunne) March 23, 2019

Richarlison is still developing his game, and he could do with improving his final ball—he played just 21 key passes in 35 Premier League matches this season, per WhoScored.com.

He's got time to do that, as he only turned 22 on May 10, but anyone looking to sign him this summer would have to splash out to secure him.

The Sun reported in late May that the Toffees want a minimum of £100 million to part with him this summer.

Everton manager Marco Silva and Richarlison's agent have both dismissed transfer rumours linking the Brazilian with rivals Liverpool, while the player himself has suggested he's happy at Goodison Park.

UOL Esporte's Marcus Alves (h/t MailOnline's Tom Caldon) worried Everton fans by reporting agent Renato Velasco had met Jurgen Klopp to talk about what was said to be his only European client. A photo on Instagram also showed the representative posing with the Reds boss.

Sport Witness' Lucas Sposito reached out to the agent, who explained he does have other European clients and the whole rumour is baseless:

"So my meeting with Klopp had nothing to do with Richarlison. I am an agent of a player of Germany (Noah Weishaupt), of Freiburg and the U20 of Germany, where his father played with Klopp and they're friends. So they did not see each other in time and I went to his house to take Marcos (the father). It has nothing to do with Richarlison, the people who made the link have added one thing to another."

Per Goal's Joe Wright, Silva was also asked about the reports during a press conference, and he scoffed at the suggestion Richarlison would leave for the club's biggest rivals:

"This speculation is not important to talk about. Just to smile. Richarlison is our player and he is really happy here. I am 100 per cent sure he will keep learning and improving in the next few seasons.

"He's a really important player for us. The club paid a lot of money to sign him. I was 100 per cent sure he can help us and fit really well at our club.

"I asked our club to do everything to sign him. I'm happy, he's happy and my job is to keep working with him. He's 21 years old. I don't have doubts he can do more and more and keep improving his performances."

The player himself also hinted he has no intention of leaving on social media:

I'm happy pic.twitter.com/SwQah02hLT

— Richarlison Andrade (@richarlison97) April 4, 2019

Per Wright, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan are also interested in the former Watford man, who followed his manager to Everton and has been arguably the team's top performer this season.

The 21-year-old has scored 12 goals in the Premier League, becoming one of the division's top breakout players of the campaign.

That type of production and his tremendous upside were always going to invite speculation, and there's little doubt top clubs will be keeping a close eye on him. Everton have no reason to sell, however, especially since they only added him to the fold in the summer.

A transfer to rivals Liverpool seems virtually impossible, for any fee, especially if the interest of the other top clubs is legitimate.

The agent's clarification of the photo should ease the minds of Everton supporters, however, as it doesn't seem like any switch will happen anytime soon.  

Everton winger Richarlison has taken to Twitter to say he's happy at the club in an apparent effort to dismiss rumours linking him with Liverpool. 

According to UOL Esporte's Marcus Alves (h/t MailOnline's Tom Caldon), Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp invited Richarlison's agent Renato Velasco—whose only client based in Europe is the Everton player—for talks.

The 21-year-old has seemingly reassured Toffees fans, however:

I'm happy pic.twitter.com/SwQah02hLT

— Richarlison Andrade (@richarlison97) April 4, 2019

The youngster's arrival at Goodison Park last summer raised a few eyebrows after the Toffees spent an initial £35 million on him after one season in English football in which his form significantly dropped off in the second half of the campaign.

However, it's little wonder he's happy there, as he's enjoyed a fine debut season with Everton.

The versatile winger—who has played on both flanks and through the middle this season—has shown not only pace and trickery, but also end product.

Having scored five goals in 41 appearances for Watford, Richarlison has found the net 13 times in 33 outings for the Toffees, as well as providing two assists.

As he showed in Everton's 2-0 win over Chelsea in March, he works hard for the team, too:

Richarlison’s game by numbers vs. Chelsea:

9 ball recoveries
4 fouls committed
4 tackles won
3 penalty area shots
2 interceptions
1 goal

Put in a shift defensively and still managed to open the scoring. 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/pm7OyBdxWy

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) March 17, 2019

Sports journalist Ryan Taylor praised him for his showing in that match:

Clutch performance from Richarlison today, there was much more to it than the goal involvements. Most ball recoveries, tackles & sprints by an Everton player in a game this year. Impressive for a forward, particularly with Idrissa Gueye in the team. #EFC

— Ryan Taylor (@RyanTaylorSport) March 18, 2019

He has also broken into Brazil's senior side since his move, with three goals for the Selecao in eight appearances since his debut in September last year.

AS' Robbie Dunne was impressed with Richarlison in Brazil's 1-1 draw with Panama last month:

Richarlison the perfect blend of angry and aggressive and technically excellent and direct.

— Robbie Dunne (@robbiejdunne) March 23, 2019

It will come as a relief to Everton fans that he's happy at Goodison Park, not least because the prospect of him moving to their local rivals would be unpalatable.

He signed a five-year deal when he joined and Everton supporters will hope to see him remain at the club and develop his game even further in that time.

Everton are investigating footage of their goalkeeper Jordan Pickford allegedly embroiled in a brawl in his hometown of Sunderland. 

Per BBC Sport, a video emerged on social media in which Pickford appears to be being restrained. "The club has been made aware of an alleged incident involving one of our players and we are looking into the matter," Everton said.

Here is the footage of the incident:

Pickford there Hahahha pic.twitter.com/WmP5uC3Xx6

— Harrison (@hworden20) April 1, 2019

Another clip emerged of Pickford being heckled in a bar while he was taking photographs with fans:

Hi Jordan bro. Arms like a T-rex pic.twitter.com/NIsONgEnkb

— Brad Pickle (@lukebambridge) March 31, 2019

The flashpoint occurred a day on from Everton's 2-0 win over West Ham United in the Premier League.

Pickford became a national hero in the summer of 2018, as he excelled for England at the FIFA World Cup. The goalkeeper made a number of excellent saves at the tournament, as the Three Lions progressed to the semi-finals of the competition.

While that tournament came on the back of a fine debut season at Goodison Park—he was named the club's Player of the Year—this term has been a struggle for the former Sunderland stopper.

Pickford has made a number of high-profile errors for the Toffees, including a last-gasp gaffe at Anfield in the Merseyside derby in December that allowed Divock Origi to score a dramatic winner.

Everton manager Marco Silva believes Idrissa Gueye will turn his full focus back to the Toffees after missing out on a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in January. 

The midfielder was heavily linked with the Ligue 1 giants in the final days of the window, with daily reports coming out of France and the Premier League side repeatedly downplaying the speculation.

Per Goal's Jamie Smith Silva believes Gueye will not sulk now that the saga is over:

"When a club like PSG has a big interest in one of our players it means we're doing a good job. The January market is really tough, because the market is open when you're playing and training.  

"The board never told me the deal would be done or not. They never told me to prepare to replace him. Of course it was a good opportunity for Gana, but it's a fantastic opportunity to stay with us also. 

"I know Gueye is a good professional and a fantastic boy. He likes our club, he enjoys playing in our club. When PSG comes for one player, he starts thinking about his future.  

"Now it's stopped - the market has closed - I've no doubts he will be thinking about playing for Everton again."  

According to Sky Sports News, the 29-year-old asked the club for a transfer. Silva admitted the Toffees turned down a bid from Les Parisiens, per Ryan Benson of Goal. There were also rumours of a second bid, which Silva denied, per Goal's James Westwood.

Most of the speculation came from the French press, but a transfer never seemed likely. Per Get French Football News, Le Parisien made it clear it wasn't going to happen:

PSG added Leandro Paredes to their midfield ranks but were on the lookout for more depth after Marco Verratti suffered an injury, according to Smith. They also have to deal with the Adrien Rabiot situation, as the Frenchman hasn't featured since announcing in December his intention to leave on a free transfer.

The experienced Gueye was a Ligue 1 standout at Lille before he came to England, so he could have been an excellent immediate-impact signing.

The price was a major sticking point, as Les Parisiens reportedly only offered £21.5 million for the Senegal international. Sportswriter Ian Croll thought that was far too little:

PSG source on Idrissa Gueye situation to Le Parisien: “Only a miracle could unblock this.”

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) January 30, 2019

With 19 Premier League starts under his belt this season, Gueye is a key contributor for the Toffees. He sat out against Huddersfield, and Silva will undoubtedly hope he can return to the pitch with his mind at Goodison Park, rather than Paris.

If he has requested a transfer a summer move seems likely, but for now, Everton need him. The club's form has not been great in the last few weeks, and a ticket for European football already seems next to impossible to obtain.

Everton have denied reports Idrissa Gueye has handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force a move from the Toffees to Paris Saint-Germain after the French champions recently bid £21.5 million for him. 

Sky Sports News initially reported Gueye had "written to club officials pleading with them to allow him" to leave for PSG.

But Everton later told the same outlet they have received no such plea from Gueye and remain adamant he is not for sale.

Gueye, 29, has a contract at Goodison Park until 2022, so an offer of £21.5 million was never likely to prove tempting to Everton, even if they were open to selling him:

BREAKING: Everton have rejected a £21.5 million bid from PSG for midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye, per @_pauljoyce pic.twitter.com/gV16nE4zYy

— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 28, 2019

PSG will need to submit a much-improved bid before the end of the January transfer window if they are to succeed in their move for the midfielder. 

Not only will Everton be concerned about getting a decent fee for Gueye, they would also have very little time to replace him before the January window shuts on Thursday if they sold him.

Morgan Schneiderlin could theoretically deputise until the summer, while James McCarthy is nearing a return to action following a broken leg.

But Gueye would be a huge loss for Marco Silva's side as he has been a rock in the centre of Everton's midfield this term:

Idrissa Gueye has made more tackles (83) than any other player in the Premier League this season; 20.7% of Everton's total.

The only player with higher than 20% of their team's output. 😳 pic.twitter.com/qxowB6qhI6

— Squawka (@Squawka) January 28, 2019

The former Lille player's combative nature is surely one of the main attractions for PSG.

Thomas Tuchel's side often play brilliant attacking football, but they are lacking steel in their engine room. They will also lose Adrien Rabiot when his contract expires in June, leaving a big hole in their midfield.

Signing Gueye makes a lot of sense for PSG. But it is understandable, especially in the January transfer window, that Everton are not going to let him go easily.