“Everton deserve player of his immense quality, he grew up alongside Lamine Yamal in Barcelona’s youth teams and spent a lot of his youth trying to mark him in practice games at La Masia”- Expert says player that Everton want to sign have work very closely to Lamine Yamal for years

“Everton deserve player of his immense quality, he grew up alongside Lamine Yamal in Barcelona’s youth teams and spent a lot of his youth trying to mark him in practice games at La Masia”- Expert says player that Everton want to sign have work very closely to Lamine Yamal for years

Everton Eyeing Right-Back Reinforcement as Transfer Deadline Looms

With the transfer window nearing its final stages, Everton are actively searching for a new right-back to strengthen their squad.

Jake O’Brien is currently holding down the right-back role and has caught the attention of manager David Moyes with his performances.

However, with club captain Seamus Coleman’s ongoing fitness concerns and Nathan Patterson likely to depart the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Everton need additional depth in that position.

The club is expected to bring in reinforcements before the deadline, but whether they can land the right player remains uncertain.

Could Hector Fort Be the Solution?

Everton have been linked with a couple of potential signings, including former Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles—who now plays at right-back for Lyon—and Barcelona youngster Hector Fort.

Football commentator Ian Darke isn’t fully convinced either player is ready for top-level Premier League action, but he’s intrigued by Fort’s potential.

Speaking to Goodison News, Darke said:
“Fort came through the ranks with Lamine Yamal at Barcelona and spent a lot of his youth career trying to stop him in training matches at La Masia.

He’s an elegant, promising young full-back, though currently behind Jules Kounde in the pecking order at Barca.”

Darke added:
“Maitland-Niles is more of a utility player. He’s reliable, having made over 100 appearances across clubs like Arsenal, West Brom, and Southampton, but he’s never truly cemented a first-team spot at any of them.”

While neither player may represent an elite-level signing, Darke acknowledges that this might be the market Everton are forced to explore:
“O’Brien is doing a decent job, but Everton still need another option at right-back.”

Fort a High-Risk Option for the Toffees

Although Fort shows promise, his lack of experience poses a significant risk. He’s featured just 30 times for Barcelona’s senior team and logged only 579 minutes in La Liga last season.

Even in a possession-heavy side, his impact at both ends of the pitch was limited from a statistical point of view.

Given that, Maitland-Niles—while not a standout—might be the safer bet due to his versatility and Premier League experience.