Fabrizio Romano: Everton Out in Front for £40m Star with Key Agent Connection

 

This weekend marks a historic moment for Everton as they play their very first Premier League fixture at the newly built Hill Dickinson Stadium. The Toffees, managed by David Moyes, are set to welcome Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton in what promises to be a fascinating clash.

 

Ahead of the game, Brighton boss Hürzeler offered his thoughts on the challenge of facing a Moyes-led side:

 

> “Moyes’ teams are always very organised and difficult to break down. You have to stay alert for ninety minutes. The addition of Jack Grealish is huge—he’s an unbelievable talent and will undoubtedly strengthen Everton.”

 

 

 

Hürzeler also reflected on the atmosphere Everton have been known for at Goodison Park, adding:

 

> “The Goodison crowd was always special, and I expect their new home to be no different. We’re excited to see the new stadium, but we’re not coming here to play the nice club.”

 

 

 

While Everton’s move to a modern ground is already a landmark in itself, Moyes and the club’s recruitment team are still intent on reinforcing the squad before the transfer window shuts. And at the centre of their plans remains one of the most persistent sagas of the summer—the pursuit of Southampton’s Tyler Dibling.

 

 

 

Everton Still Pushing for Dibling Deal

 

Despite reports linking the young forward to several top clubs, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Everton remain in pole position to land Dibling. Negotiations with Southampton are ongoing, with Everton the only side currently in formal talks.

 

The Toffees previously saw a £27 million bid rejected, as the Saints have been holding out for around £40 million. Earlier in the window, Southampton were even rumoured to be valuing Dibling at an eye-watering £100 million, but that figure has since been scaled back to something more realistic.

 

Interestingly, some assumed that Everton’s surprise loan signing of Jack Grealish was a move to end their pursuit of Dibling. However, Romano clarified on his YouTube channel that this is not the case. The Merseyside club still views Dibling as a priority and intends to push hard to finalise a deal before the window closes.

 

Everton do, however, face fresh competition. Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly begun internal discussions about targeting Dibling. Spurs are growing frustrated with their stalled pursuit of Morgan Rogers, while Arsenal’s hijack of their chase for Eberechi Eze has left them scrambling for alternative creative options.

 

 

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Agent Link Could Swing the Deal

 

Where Everton may hold the upper hand is in their existing relationship with ROOF agency, which represents both Dibling and Thierno Barry, the forward Everton signed from Villarreal earlier this summer. Having successfully worked together recently, this connection could smooth over the personal side of the negotiations—something that has already proven tricky with Southampton’s shifting demands.

 

 

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Tactical Fit: Dibling and Grealish Offer New Dimensions

 

For Moyes, Dibling’s arrival would not only add depth but also tactical flexibility. Everton’s current wide options—Dwight McNeil, Iliman Ndiaye, and Grealish—are all naturally left-sided players. Dibling, however, can operate effectively from the right, either as a traditional winger stretching play or as an inverted winger cutting inside to link with the forwards.

 

This ability to rotate wings and switch styles mid-match could give Everton an unpredictable edge, making them harder to defend against.

 

There’s also the issue of fouls won. Both Grealish and Dibling are notorious for drawing challenges, ranking among the top percentile of forwards in Europe for fouls earned per 90 minutes (Grealish sits in the top 2.5%). For Moyes’ side, this is particularly significant. Last season, Everton were statistically the joint-most dangerous team from set-pieces, tied with Arsenal, netting eight goals from dead-ball situations. Adding players who consistently win free kicks around the box could make Everton even more formidable in this department.

 

 

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A Defining Transfer Window for Everton?

 

If Everton manage to beat Spurs and others to Dibling’s signature, the pairing of Grealish and Dibling could transform their attacking options. Not only would Moyes gain a wider variety of tactical choices, but the Toffees would also double down on one of their key strengths—set-piece efficiency.

 

Coupled with the excitement of a new stadium and renewed optimism around the squad, the capture of Dibling could mark a statement of intent from Everton as they look to re-establish themselves as a force in the Premier League.