Everton interest grows in Morocco midfielder as fee set for Richarlison fee set

The big news - the ONLY news some would say - on Everton is the takeover talks, with the Mirror revealing exclusively last week there are at least four interested parties who want to buy the club.

The high profile engagement has come from the American consortium fronted by former Umbro boss (and Everton sponsor) Peter Kenyon, but there are differing levels of engagement with owner Farhad Moshiri from other groups.

That means, of course, all transfer business is up in the air for Everton, especially given stringent new rules on debt and wage limits introduced by the Premier League. With debts of £250m in the past three years, there needs to be some serious housekeeping at Goodison, unless there is further investment.

That means outgoings first, and today in the Everton round-up we get a clearer picture of the sorts of figures the Blues need to generate in the transfer market to allow them to spend. There's also a continuing link with a 'long term' Frank Lampard target, and a surprising new interest…though perhaps unsurprisingly it is in a Chelsea player, apparently. Which shows a certain lack of imagination in those doing the linking, it seems.

Everton make Richarlison demand

The Brazilian striker has made clear he wants to leave, and the truth is, Everton need the cash from his sale. Now Sky are suggesting the figures being bandied about are in excess of £50m. Given the likes of Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal are all interested, that is not necessarily the huge fee that many seem to believe. Richarlison cost Everton £35m four years ago, and with add-ons, that figure has risen closer to that £50m. In fact, the Blues have paid almost that with appearance based bonuses, and they would want a profit on their investment. £60m would also allow them to offset debts, and perhaps - with another outgoing - allow signings. On that note:

Winks 'talks open'

Again according to Sky, talks are now about to open over the possible transfer to Everton of Harry Winks, with Spurs keen to sell, even if Richarlison isn't part of the equation. This is a long standing link, with the only new development supposed talks, though the sale of Richarlison would makes things easier in that regard.

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Chelsea midfield link

No, not Conor Gallagher, though that link has remained alive with Chelsea interest in, yep, Richarlison, but various reports suggest Lampard is eyeing yet another player at his former club, in Hakim Ziyech. The Morocco international has shown occasional flashes of brilliance at Stamford Bridge, but rarely ignited, meaning he may not be part of manager Thomas Tuchel's plans. He is 29 though, and you imagine his wages at Chelsea after a high profile move would be difficult to justify for the Blues in their current financial position. So too would a fee of around £30m for a player approaching his 30th birthday, especially given Sadio Mane only went for that figure. One rumour that seems to be true though, is that James Tarkowski has agreed his free transfer move to Goodison, which should be completed when his Burnley contract expires on June 30.