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Pessimism over Tyler Dibling after Southampton reject third Everton bid

| 05/08/2025 52comments  |  Jump to last

Everton might have to give up on their attempts to sign Tyler Dibling as pessimism grows around the club after a third bid fell short of Southampton’s demands.

Paul Joyce of The Times reports that the Blues’ latest bid was worth £40million, including add-ons, but the Saints are seeking a higher fee for their 19-year-old winger. 

Everton had earlier lodged offers of around £27million and £35million for Dibling. 

“It will now need Southampton to relent on their asking price for progress to be made,” the report added.

The search for a winger to play on the right has been proven to be frustrating for the Toffees so far. They missed out on their original target, Francisco Conceicao, who opted to join Juventus permanently after a loan spell from Porto.

Takefusa Kubo of Real Sociedad had also been on the shortlist, and contact was also made with Olympique Lyon’s Malick Fofana, although it has been reported that the latter is seeking European football.

Everton have also monitored Assane Diao, Omari Hutchinson and Tom Fellows, but little progress has been made on any of those players.



Reader Comments (52)

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Ian Wilkins
1 Posted 05/08/2025 at 09:39:41
A bid in the region of £40M which includes a lot of hope value, for a player with undoubted potential, seems fair value to me.

If we can't do a deal at this level, then at this stage in the Everton journey, it's probably time to move to the next target.

Brian Harrison
2 Posted 05/08/2025 at 10:03:51
While Southampton rate this boy very highly, as do some independent people in the game, I think £40M for a 19-year-old who will be playing in the Championship this season is a huge bid.

Also, why if the boy is that talented, haven't any of the big boys come in for him? Or maybe they want to see the boy develop before splashing the cash.

Should this deal go through, the pressure on a 19-year-old bought for in excess of £40M will be immense. The fee has nothing to do with the player, that's between the selling and buying clubs, but that won't stop the fans' expectations.

I am sure, seeing all the speculation, the boy's head will be turned, as no doubt will his agent's, after all of this; I just can't see him being at Southampton at the close of the window.

John Pickles
3 Posted 05/08/2025 at 10:15:15
It was suggested we could get Kubo for £35M.
James Marshall
4 Posted 05/08/2025 at 10:22:46
I still think this has legs, despite the ongoing saga. Why move on to another target, thus starting the process all over again and potentially missing out?

We're stuck between a rock and a hard place on all our transfers. The selling clubs and agents hold all the cards, so we have little choice but to play the game.

Our situation is very well documented, so naturally we have to pay the asking price no matter who we're dealing with. Our needs are great and everyone knows that, so all we can do is pay or we don't buy anyone.

It's simple really.

Andrew Ellams
5 Posted 05/08/2025 at 10:27:43
Time to move on. He's a promising player but probably not worth the time and hassle being invested now.

Be interesting to see how he reacts if Everton walk away and will it push him into handing in a transfer request?

Jon Atkinson
6 Posted 05/08/2025 at 10:33:16
Southampton reportedly could pursue compensation due to Everton FFP
paybacks a bitch
Terry Downes
7 Posted 05/08/2025 at 10:43:28
Move on now and try for Hutchinson from Ipswich?

He looks quality and we might even get him for less!

Steve Brown
8 Posted 05/08/2025 at 10:54:04
“Following the latest Everton bid that was worth in the region of £40M, Southampton came back with a proposal of £45M plus £5M in easily achievable bonuses and a 25% sell-on clause.

That is beyond what Everton would be looking to pay for the 19-year-old winger and Southampton have been informed of their intention to focus on other targets, who are being pursued in parallel, due to the wide valuation gap.

Southampton do not plan to reduce their price owing to a belief that Dibling is the best young English player on the market and key to their aims of being promoted back to the Premier League.”

Time to move on, unless the player puts pressure on Southampton and demands a move.

Jake FitzGerald
9 Posted 05/08/2025 at 11:00:13
Is it not an issue of upfront payment that's holding it up? They've been offered £43M but £8M of that is add-ons, but Southampton want a guaranteed upfront amount?

Maybe give £40M upfront and £5M in add-ons so they've got their £45M. But as a final offer.

Dave Abrahams
10 Posted 05/08/2025 at 11:00:29
Steve (8),

It sounds like Southampton are acting like Swansea when the price was going up and up after each bid we made for the footballer who couldn't be named, and there were no other clubs bidding for him.

Has there been any other bids for Dibling besides Everton's?

Jake FitzGerald
11 Posted 05/08/2025 at 11:08:16
According to The Athletic, Everton have walked away from it.
Ajay Gopal
12 Posted 05/08/2025 at 11:15:01
While the fee seems excessively high, the final decision will be made by people who know better than most fans on what he could bring to the team.

Could this be our 'Rooney' moment – when Man U got their player after paying about £35M (equivalent of £100M plus today), and the rest turned out to be history? Dibling has done nothing yet to suggest that he is anywhere close to Rooney's level, but the potential to reach that level is there.

It would be a huge statement of intent by Everton to get Dibling – it is certainly a big risk for Everton, but is it that big of a difference between paying £35M for Kubo or Hutchinson and £45M for Dibling? In the long run, given the money in the game, I suggest not.

I would be sickened if Liverpool, Tottenham, or one of the other big boys were to swoop in for Dibling and he turns out to be a star there. We are long overdue a bit of luck in finding our new talisman – I hope it turns out to be Dibling.

Steve Brown
13 Posted 05/08/2025 at 11:20:54
Agree Dave, if we get further involved in the process it would have the smell of daft Farhad getting fleeced.

Soouthampton are in the Championship, and that's where they will be at the end of the 2025-26 season. Go back next summer as Dibling will only have 12 months left on his deal then.

Steve Brown
14 Posted 05/08/2025 at 11:23:15
Jon @ 6, heard that multiple times about Leicester City, Southampton and Burnley.

Hasn't happened and won't happen.

Danny O'Neill
15 Posted 05/08/2025 at 11:34:38
Yes, Swansea and Sigurdsson, when we kept outbidding ourselves until Swansea got what they wanted.

If the club has walked away, then rightfully so if Southampton are playing games. They are going to have to sell and if they leave it until next summer, his price will drop significantly.

To me, if this is Everton's course of action, it smells of TFG. They walked away from taking over Everton until Moshiri decided to come back and agree to their offer.

I think the days of the previous regime's negotiation strategy of "how much do you want" are behind us.

Jake FitzGerald
16 Posted 05/08/2025 at 11:40:02
No more Dibling quibbling.
Andy Meighan
18 Posted 05/08/2025 at 11:44:55
I was all for this kid at £40M but, if Southampton are knocking back silly money for a lad of his age, they really are as stupid as we think.

No doubt in my mind that Dibling is going to be a player, but we can't be held to ransom; otherwise, they'll keep shoving the price up.

Everton would be wise to tell them where to get off and they'd be left with one very unhappy player.

As Dave A said, telling that there's not really anyone else in for him.

I'd be disappointed but there's others out there.

John Pickles
19 Posted 05/08/2025 at 12:02:58
Clubs like Arsenal can gamble £50M on Dibling, clubs like Everton cannot. We haven't even got a team yet, let alone a squad.

Get it wrong and we're back to 'Koeman' days and 5 more years of having our bollocks in the PSR vice.

Andrew Clare
20 Posted 05/08/2025 at 12:03:20
We have made the right decision. Now let's turn our attention other avenues.

I would have liked to have seen him in an Everton shirt but it would have been a big risk at £50M.

Hopefully we are already talking to alternatives or returning to up offers on players who are undecided.

Joseph Edwards
21 Posted 05/08/2025 at 12:05:10
£40M is a big gamble – especially for someone with little first-team experience.
Eddie Dunn
22 Posted 05/08/2025 at 12:11:48
Nobody but the clubs have any idea of the money involved.

If the kid wants the move, he should ask to leave.

Robert Tressell
23 Posted 05/08/2025 at 12:16:14
Dibling could be brilliant – but the risk does start going up as the price gets north of £45M. We aren't yet made of money and can't spend our way out of failure.

Fair enough to hold out for a big fee but risk for them too if Dibling is unhappy. Still seems likely we'll get a good quality player for this position.

Christine Foster
24 Posted 05/08/2025 at 12:24:38
£27M was still a huge bid for a 19-year-old with no one else in for him, a relegated club and nothing to show but promise.

£50M is stupid. Walk away. I would rather have Richarlison back and that's not going to happen either.

Lee Courtliff
25 Posted 05/08/2025 at 12:30:04
25% sell-on clause on top of the transfer fee is ridiculous.

I'd only agree to that percentage if the initial price was lowered... by quite a bit.

Kevin Molloy
26 Posted 05/08/2025 at 12:35:36
It seems to me their counter offer wasn't a final offer. If we went back with £45M and 20% uplift, I reckon that would do it.

I'd pay that if we got £40M for Anthony Gordon a couple of years ago. I'd pay that all day long for this player.

Ed Fitzgerald
27 Posted 05/08/2025 at 12:58:59
Let's avoid offering stupid money we can ill afford to, for what? Potential — and no more than that.

Whilst we need more players and pace, there is no need for us to bend to Southampton's extortion.

David Hallwood
28 Posted 05/08/2025 at 13:25:34
This screams Gnoto. Move on to other targets, otherwise we'll start the season yet again without a right sided player
Sean Mitchell
29 Posted 05/08/2025 at 13:58:58
I like this new system. Not being held to ransom and walking away.

The dark days would be paying more for a shite player.

Meanwhile at Man United… they’re offering 73 million for Sezko (if that’s how it’s spelt).
Laid off all of the staff, but are able to cough up approaching 200 million on 3 players.
Disgrace of a club.

Carry on the good work, Everton.
We’ll get more players in.

Moyes speaking out has clearly and hopefully helped.

Paul Tran
30 Posted 05/08/2025 at 14:05:05
They've made us a counteroffer, which is a sure sign they want to sell. They're trying to flush out alternative buyers while testing us out. It'll be interesting to see who blinks first.
Kieran Kinsella
31 Posted 05/08/2025 at 14:22:45
Paul Tran,

I agree. Also the remark "he is key to their plans for returning to the Premier League," some might take to mean by playing for them but I assume they mean by selling and reinvesting.

I suspect no one will come in with a higher bid but worse case is someone else comes in with a lower bid that's more attractive. For example, a Champions League team. Then he agitates for a move and Southampton end up taking the bid as frankly they need the money.

Ryan Holroyd
32 Posted 05/08/2025 at 14:25:02
Thank God Richarlison won't happen. We don't want that sicknote back again. Average as they come, him.

I'd pay £45M plus 10/15% of any future profit for Dibling.

Grant Rorrison
33 Posted 05/08/2025 at 14:45:32
Why are we even after a player no one else wants and hasn't done anything of note in football yet?
Jamie Clancy
34 Posted 05/08/2025 at 15:35:38
I'd love to see him at Everton. I think he has huge potential. But the club can't be held to ransom.

It seems like we have smart people running the club now. £40M is a huge offer for a player with one season's first-team experience in the Premier League.

So many positions still to strengthen. Must be smart. Probably best to walk away from this one.

Mike Allison
35 Posted 05/08/2025 at 16:43:29
You've got to walk away.

Maybe go back later when they've realised that no-one will pay and the lad wants to leave.

Nigel Scowen
36 Posted 05/08/2025 at 17:56:44
Sean @29,

Has it though? I'm a Moyes fan normally but, other than maybe placating the fans that the powers that be are on it in terms of buying players, I really don't see the benefit of Moyes speaking out like that other than to alert selling clubs as to how desperate we are for players. I think we are seeing the inflationary results of that now.

Mike @35,

Agree Mike, we do need to walk away now. I do like the way though we have lined up a number of options compared to previous transfer strategies. My favourite for this position was and remains Kubo.

Lee @25,

Agree on the 25% fiasco, if we are going to take the risk of buying a 19-year-old then we shouldn't be giving up a quarter of any future sell on fee, absolutely ridiculous.

Andrew Keatley
37 Posted 05/08/2025 at 18:27:25
I don't know this for sure but the 25% sell-on clause surely only becomes active for any fee above the one we would be paying Southampton.

So if we bought him for £45M but sold him for £60M then Southampton would be due 25% of that increase – so 25% of £15M.

Si Cooper
87 Posted 08/08/2025 at 20:43:40
Andrew, why not 25% of £60 million?
Brendan McLaughlin
88 Posted 08/08/2025 at 21:02:36
Si #87,

The sell-on percentage only applies to any profit Everton make on the player... apparently.

Eric Myles
95 Posted 09/08/2025 at 05:52:26
Mike #25, and if we go back later so so at the original £25 million and see him put in a transfer request at the 11th hour.
Colin Glassar
96 Posted 09/08/2025 at 07:08:53
I feel like the stars are lining up, Mike.

Do you know what they mean, Dale? I'm going to check out The Lincolnshire Poacher theory.

Maybe this is how some clubs communicate with each other

Dale Self
97 Posted 09/08/2025 at 08:02:53
I think you touched on the meaning there, Colin. It is suggested that they are some kind of veiled intelligence communications. There are transmissions in many languages, usually short series of numbers repeated but sometimes using words to clarify letters.

Some have strange synth sounds without letters or numbers which may be a prompt or signal about the significance of what follows. Much of it is just running cover for the few bits of meaningful code. Freaky stuff no doubt.

And isn't 555 a Thai beer? I thought I remembered getting that served when the place in Den Bien Phu ran out of Tiger beer.

Joe McMahon
98 Posted 09/08/2025 at 09:26:54
It's difficult as Grealish will now go to Spurs.
James Marshall
99 Posted 09/08/2025 at 09:40:21
I'm more inclined to think Spurs will try to sign Eze over Grealish. It's very easy to link Spurs to Grealish because of Maddison's injury but the Eze link has been there for longer (and stronger).

Spurs don't tend to buy older players, and Eze is only 24, London based and fits their mould better than Grealish.

Conor McCourt
100 Posted 09/08/2025 at 09:49:42
Is this ToffeeWeb sorting out the Dibling outlay to the Saints? 55.5M?

£40M up front
£5M on achievable add one
£10.5M after Southampton and Everton agree 10% sell on clause, redeemed when Everton sell Dibling to Real Madrid after 3 seasons for £150M after leading them to the league title.

Ian Bennett
101 Posted 09/08/2025 at 09:56:35
Dibling and Grealish left out of today's match squads. Saints in for Fellows, Grealish telling friends he wants a move to Everton.

Presure next week to get the deals done, such that the playing squad is the match-day squad.

I still think we will sign both.

Sam Hoare
102 Posted 09/08/2025 at 10:04:59
James, Eze is 27.

As for Dibling, the lack of alternate bids emerging suggests we are still keen on him. Hopefully it gets done over next week or so. It's in both clubs interests to resolve it sooner than later.

I expect around £37M with £5M in easily achievable add-ons and maybe another £5M in more ambitious add-ons plus 10% of future profit.

James Marshall
103 Posted 09/08/2025 at 10:16:05
Sam, you're right. He only turned 27 in June and Grealish is 30 in September so there's still a few years between them.

Like Ian, I still think we'll sign Grealish and Dibling the way things are going.

Jake FitzGerald
104 Posted 09/08/2025 at 10:20:31
Whoever we sign, I hope it ruins Paul Merson's transfer window.

Again.

Ian Bennett
105 Posted 09/08/2025 at 10:27:09
Social media doing Delap dirty after Pedro's goal and his stinker.

64 minutes played
No goals
No assists
No dribbles
No key passes
2 big chances missed
3 out of 6 passes completed

Sam Hoare
106 Posted 09/08/2025 at 10:34:33
Ian, decent chance Chelsea sell Delap to Palace for £40m next summer after 7 goals in a thousand or so minutes mostly in easy cup games?
Ian Bennett
107 Posted 09/08/2025 at 11:01:53
Delap, Højlund, Zirkzee, Jackson.

I'ts a Number 9 graveyard for emerging centre-forwards. A lesson in moving too early.

Paul Hewitt
109 Posted 13/08/2025 at 13:29:46
Southampton have come back with a lower offer they would accept for Dibling. Must be getting desperate now.

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