Everton are believed to be eyeing up a frustrated Arsenal player ahead of the summer transfer window, with his Gunners career described as over.
Everton make transfer plans as push for Europe continues
Seven games stand between Everton and the most remarkable achievement in a generation.
David Moyes’ side go into the international break in eighth place, level on points with Brentford in seventh and just three points behind fifth-placed rivals Liverpool.
A thumping 3-0 dismissal of Chelsea last Saturday — goals from Beto twice and an Iliman Ndiaye stunner — sent the Hill Dickinson Stadium into raptures and sent a message to every club above them that this is no fluke.
Moyes himself could barely believe what he was saying at the post-match press conference.
His own words framed it best: for Everton to even be in the conversation about European qualification, he said, was something he would have found unthinkable not long ago.
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Conference League, Europa League, even Champions League — England’s strong coefficient this season means any of those outcomes remain mathematically possible for a club that spent last summer clawing their way back from the edge.
The transfer rumours already swirling around the club reflects that ambition.
Liam Delap at Chelsea remains a primary Toffees target — the 23-year-old striker who snubbed Everton last summer in favour of Stamford Bridge is now struggling for consistent minutes under Liam Rosenior and could be on his way out of west London.
Harry Wilson, Fulham’s outstanding Welsh winger who is heading out of contract, is also admired on Merseyside despite fierce competition from Aston Villa.
There is also reported interest in Monaco striker Folarin Balogun, with Everton and West Ham both understood to be preparing concrete steps for the 24-year-old American.
A summer rebuild with genuine European ambition at its heart is taking shape at the Friedkin Group’s club.
But while the forward department gets most of the attention, Moyes knows his backline needs reinforcing too.
Vitaliy Mykolenko’s contract situation remains unresolved, and the arrival of a new full-back has reportedly been discussed internally for some time.
Everton identify ‘disgruntled’ Arsenal star Ben White as summer target
Now, Sports Boom report that Everton are among the clubs who have registered interest in Arsenal’s Ben White.
The 28-year-old has found himself in an increasingly uncomfortable position at the Emirates.
Jurrien Timber has cemented himself as Mikel Arteta’s first choice in that position, leaving White ‘disgruntled’ and on the periphery, with his N5 career described as ‘seemingly at an end’.
Arsenal, who splashed nearly £270 million last summer and need to trim their books, are understood to be open to selling a number of fringe players, and White — bought from Brighton for £50m back in 2021 — falls into that category.
What has sharpened White’s desire to move is a development that arrived entirely out of the blue.
A late call-up to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, the last of the season before the World Cup summer, has reignited his international ambitions after a prolonged self-imposed break from the national team.
The England right-back, no longer willing to simply sit and wait at Arsenal, now recognises that regular Premier League football is non-negotiable.
Newcastle are SportsBoom’s primary focus in the report, with the Magpies eyeing White as a potential replacement for Kieran Trippier, whose contract situation at St James’ Park remains unresolved.
However, Everton are named alongside them as an interested party to sign White — and the appeal of a club pushing hard for European football, with regular starts all but guaranteed, could prove persuasive.
For Moyes, it could be the perfect defensive addition to an increasingly exciting project.
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