Everton hold preliminary talks to sign ‘monster in the making’ who Patrick Vieira loves

Everton have a few decisions to make before January, and the names doing the rounds would take their money in very different directions.

Everton weigh up where to spend in January

The fanciful idea of bringing Kevin De Bruyne back to England caught the eye this week, but the more pressing question for David Moyes is who can take some of the weight off Thierno Barry.

Reports in Italy said Everton had sounded out De Bruyne’s representatives.

However, the idea of a sensational swoop for the Belgium legend has since been played down, with a striker still understood to be Moyes’s first priority.

That doesn’t necessarily mean Richarlison, either.

ESPN’s Bruno Andrade reported Everton’s interest in bringing him back from Tottenham after a failed summer move, but Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke now says the club would only revisit a deal if they missed out on their preferred targets.

The reunion would go down well with plenty of supporters, but there could be a few calls to make before it gets that far.

Kelvin Yeboah is one of the names already in the frame, with Everton named ahead of the other Premier League clubs looking at him earlier this month, and his 18 goals for Minnesota United in the MLS regular season explain why the search has taken them that far afield.

Everton ask about Union defender Massiré Sylla

REUTERS/Miguel Vidal

Bréhima Diakité reports for Africa Foot that Everton have held preliminary talks about signing Massiré Sylla by enquiring about the 21-year-old Union Saint-Gilloise centre-half.

Brighton have also been asking about him, while AC Milan were linked earlier this month, but there’s no mention of a bid from Everton at this stage.

Union have already tied Sylla down until June 2031, announcing a new contract last week that adds a year to his original deal. He’s only been in Belgium for ten months, and the length of that contract means Union can afford to wait for an offer they like.

It’s easy to see why Everton would want to do their homework now.

REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff

Sylla came through the Diambars academy in Senegal and spent time with Pau’s reserves in France before making his name at Lyn, where he was voted the best young player in Norway’s second tier.

Union only signed him in January, and he’s quickly earned a regular place.

He’s started all 10 of his Belgian league appearances this season and played the full game in last week’s 2-1 Europa League win away at Celta Vigo.

Why Moyes should keep an eye on the ‘monster in the making’

Reuters/Lee Smith

Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, an academy player expert, called Sylla a ‘monster in the making’ on X, and one number stands out, with his 32 interceptions leading Belgium’s top flight.

At 6 ft 5in, he’s won 95 duels in 10 league games, but it’s how often he reads the pass early enough to cut it out that should interest Moyes.

Patrick Vieira likes what he’s seen, too. The Senegal coach gave Sylla his first senior call-up after Mamadou Sarr got injured. He stayed on the bench for Thursday’s 4-1 win over Sudan, but Vieira turning to him when a place opened up shows how quickly his club form has got him noticed.

With James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite already in place, Everton could give Sylla time to learn the job.

He’s played in a back three for Union, and Moyes would need to see how he handles the space behind an advancing full-back when there’s one fewer centre half to cover.

If Sylla can quickly adjust tactically, and to life in the Premier League, Everton would have a defender who can step out and stop attacks early.