According to The Mail on Sunday, Everton want to sign Fulham midfielder Harrison Reed in the January transfer window.
On page 84 of its print version on December 31, the newspaper said that the Toffees are also interested in Leicester City winger Kasey McAteer, but that there is only a “slim chance” that this will happen in the upcoming transfer window.
The budget also implies that loans are more possible for the Blues, with Sean Dyche wishing for a new centre-back and a new left-back, while Ben Godfrey, Andre Gomes, and Amadou Onana are the most likely candidates to depart Goodison Park.
Everton’s transfer window is likely to be relatively quiet due to the club’s well-documented financial troubles off the field.
That means Dyche will have to work hard to secure a pair of loan players to build up his squad and strengthen in a couple of areas where he believes they may be lacking.
The 28-year-old Reed could prove to be an option after he’s been a bit-part player for Fulham over the past few weeks, with the midfielder recording more than 100 Premier League appearances to his name, including 16 this season.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the odd fringe player leave, but the Toffees will surely do all they can to fend off any interest in Belgian midfielder Onana.
There may also be interest in Jarrad Branthwaite, who has impressed since coming into the first-team picture and has been watched by several clubs in recent months.
However, getting some players through the door should remain a priority, as you never know what can happen in the second half of the season as the Blues attempt to navigate themselves away from trouble once more.
