Rumour Mill — Week of 29 December 2025

| 01/01/2026 22comments  |  Jump to last

With the January Transfer Window opening on Thursday, a raft of new players have been added to the list Everton have been linked with up to and during this week:

  • Attackers & Forwards

    • Jack Grealish (Forward, Manchester City) Reports suggest The Friedkin Group is already in talks to make his loan move permanent this month. 

    • Conor Gallagher: (Forward, Atletico Madrid) Linked with a return to the Premier League, Moyes is a known admirer of his work rate, which might fit the "dogs of war" mentality he’s trying to recreate.

    • Artem Dovbyk (Striker, AS Roma):  While he's a key man in Rome, rumours of a TFG sister-club loan persist if Everton can’t land Toney.

    • Brennan Johnson: (Striker, Tottenham Hotspur): Rumours have intensified that Everton are in a four-club race (including Crystal Palace) for the £35M Tottenham winger.  
    • Tyrique George (Forward/Winger, Chelsea) – Frustrated with minutes; Everton and Fulham are the main contenders for a January move.

    • Richarlison (Forward, Tottenham) – Sentiment is high for a "Bring Him Home" deal, with Spurs reportedly open to offers.
    • Gabriel Jesus (Forward, Arsenal) – High-profile link to solve the goal-scoring burden on Thierno Barry, though Arsenal are hesitant to sell.

    • Ivan Toney (Forward, Al-Ahli) – Wants a Premier League return to catch Thomas Tuchel's eye for the World Cup; high wages are the main obstacle.

    • Daizen Maeda (Forward, Celtic) – Reportedly keen to leave Glasgow; viewed as a high-energy "Moyes type" player.

    • Joshua Zirkzee (Forward, Man Utd) – Linked as a potential loan option to rediscover his Serie A form away from the pressure of Old Trafford.

    • Troy Parrott (Forward, AZ Alkmaar) – Scouts have reportedly watched him in the Netherlands after his prolific run of form.

    • Franculino Djú (Forward, Midtjylland) – A younger "project" link being monitored by several mid-table PL clubs.

    • Eliezer Mayenda (Forward, Sunderland) – Another scouting link; seen as a long-term prospect for the frontline.

    Midfielders

    • Josh Mulligan (Midfielder, Hibernian): A classic ToffeeWeb "sleeper" hit. Fans are drawing comparisons to John McGinn and urging the club to take a £3m punt on the physical Scottish .
    • Kobbie Mainoo (Midfielder, Man Utd) – The "headline" rumour; Everton want a loan to cover AFCON absences (Ndiaye/Gueye), but face massive competition from Napoli.

    • Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Midfielder, Free Agent) – Linked as emergency depth for the engine room if Merlin Röhl’s injury persists.

    • Myles Lewis-Skelly (Midfielder/left-back, Arsenal) – Thomas Tuchel has reportedly suggested he needs a loan; Everton, Fulham, and West Ham are all hovering.

    • Harvey Elliott (Attacking Midfielder, Liverpool) – A "wildcard" suggestion from pundits. While he’s been told to follow the "Dewsbury-Hall blueprint" of moving for minutes, a cross-city move remains highly unlikely.

    Defenders

    • Jayden Bogle (Right-Back, Leeds United): Bogle has emerged as a serious target to provide a specialized solution on the right flank.

    • Juanlu Sánchez (Right-Back, Sevilla) – Frequently linked as the long-term successor to Seamus Coleman; Friedkin connections in Europe could help.
    • Omar El Hilali (Right-Back, Espanyol) – Reports suggest a £26M release clause exists, which Moyes is considering triggering.

    • Vitinho (Full-Back, Botafogo) – Another name doing the rounds as Moyes searches for "pace in abundance" on the flanks.

    • Nils Zätterström (Centre-Back, Malmö/Sheff Utd) – Mentioned as a potential left-footed defensive cover.


    Possible Outgoings & Loan Recalls

    • Harrison Armstrong: He was on loan at Preston, but Moyes has now recalled the teenager to provide immediate cover in midfield.

    • Iliman Ndiaye: Despite being a fan favourite, Chelsea and Liverpool have both been linked with £40M+ moves, with Reece James reportedly "scouting" him post-match.

    • Jarrad Branthwaite: The £70M valuation remains; Man Utd and Spurs are still hovering, though Everton are desperate to keep him until the summer, with his current injury still unresolved.

    • Tyler Dibling: The £40M price tag supposedly weighing down the young starlet could again cite homesickness for a possible (loan?) move back to Southampton and some much-needed game time?


Reader Comments (22)

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Barry McNally
1 Posted 01/01/2026 at 10:10:33
James Justin (Full-Back, Leicester City) - any relation to the James Justin that Leeds bought from Leicester in the last window 🤔
Michael Kenrick
2 Posted 01/01/2026 at 10:13:44
Uh-Oh... just can't get good help these days.
Dave Abrahams
3 Posted 01/01/2026 at 10:33:11
I’d love Gabriel Jesus on loan.
James Marshall
8 Posted 01/01/2026 at 12:18:04
A quick Google and the vast majority of these players are being reported on websites run by teenagers in their bedrooms. I can't find one single reliable source for any of it.

I'll wager none of these come good in January. I like Mainoo, but highly highly doubt it'll happen.

Jim Bennings
9 Posted 01/01/2026 at 12:20:01
Vitinho and Troy Parrott the most likely options, I think, and they'd improve our squad.

Can't see us getting Brennan Johnson and some of the other names are unrealistic, we won't be going for Harvey Elliott and I very much doubt Ivan Toney now either.

Anthony Dwyer
10 Posted 01/01/2026 at 12:56:47
Jackson, if Bayern send him back to Chelsea, would be good.

Connor Gallagher on loan with a view to a permanent from Atletico.

Brennan Johnson would get us much needed goals and, if we don't sign Grealish long term, would be great for our right with Ndiaye back onto the left.

Richalison has proven he can almost guarantee 2 goal contributions in 3 games and can play in 4 positions for us.

Mainoo, Jesus; either or both would work but I can't see them coming tbh.

Any right-back anywhere in the world is an upgrade on Patterson.

Mike Powell
11 Posted 01/01/2026 at 14:47:06
Why would we spend the bit of money we have on Johnson, it's a right- or left-back and a striker that we are desperate for.

I don't think we will buy anyone, we might get a loan player in. Moyes has said we won't be doing much business in January.

Ian Bennett
12 Posted 01/01/2026 at 15:01:49
18 goals in 36 starts last season, Mike.

Even if he was an option from the bench, he would up the output from our bench currently.

Dave Abrahams
13 Posted 01/01/2026 at 15:39:17
Ian (12)

Wow 18 goals in 36 starts last season — what are we waiting for?

Everton's team has scored 20 goals in 19 games this season and 6 of them were scored in two games.

Mike Gaynes
14 Posted 01/01/2026 at 16:37:38
We lost out on Johnson -- no surprise, as he reportedly was fixed on Palace.

But the hot new midfield rumor is Louza, Watford captain. Munchkin-sized but dynamic CM with an eye for goal, and feisty as hell.

Sean Mitchell
15 Posted 01/01/2026 at 16:55:26
It’s the hope that kills you.

Come on, Moyes. Get someone in.

Lewis Barclay
16 Posted 01/01/2026 at 17:38:05
£40M for Ndiaye -- is it the first of April already?

Bill Hawker
17 Posted 01/01/2026 at 19:06:32
Ndiaye would go for £60M at a minimum.
Martin Berry
18 Posted 01/01/2026 at 19:46:12
Interesting that Imran Louza from Watford is suddenly being touted for a move with Everton strongly linked.

One under the radar until now? Possibly an Everton type of doing business these days and his price is not crazy either.

Definitely has legs, with no pun intended, we need strength in midfield and this lad could be really good.

Michael Kenrick
19 Posted 01/01/2026 at 20:02:59
But Martin, are you sure of your sources?

Could it just be on a website run by a teenager in their bedroom?

Tony Abrahams
20 Posted 01/01/2026 at 21:46:44
I'm sure I was reading before that the Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace deal is off?

According to the piece I read, the Palace chairman refused to pay the player's agent, telling him he didn't work for his club.

So echoes of when Simon Jordan refused to deal with Timmy Cahill's agent, perhaps?

Bob Parrington
21 Posted 01/01/2026 at 23:36:48
Shouldn't we just stick to the 2 positions that have been identified as our weakest, currently. Right-back and Striker?

Forget the rest until we've done so!

Stan Grace
22 Posted 02/01/2026 at 04:09:07
Come on Michael #19, you're not a teenager anymore.
Andy Meighan
23 Posted 02/01/2026 at 06:36:17
£40M for Ndiaye?

Nah, I don't think so.

Derek Knox
24 Posted 02/01/2026 at 06:48:30
Over-optimistic maybe, but Richarlison or Gabriel Jesus or Francolino Dju, Conor Gallagher, Josh Mulligan and Vitinho or Juanlu would be fantastic catches and set us up for a Euro spot finish!

Probably unrealistic... but not impossible either!

Derek Knox
25 Posted 02/01/2026 at 13:18:00
I don't mean all of them, by the way.

1 out of 3 for the strikers, and 1 out of 2 for the right-back!

Bjoern Haall
26 Posted 15/01/2026 at 15:58:50
Swedish media is claiming that Everton has an interest in Emil Holm now at Bologna.

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