Everton should consider a move for Arsenal centre-back Rob Holding this summer.
Rob Holding is considered surplus to requirements at Arsenal, and is available to any potential suitors. However, the Gunners will be determined to fetch a reasonable price for the defender after Besiktas had their £2 million bid swiftly dismissed. This uncertainty over Holding’s future offers the opportunity for Everton to present themselves as a potential destination.
There is room in Sean Dyche’s squad for another centre-back, following the departure of
Why Rob Holding would be a great fit for Everton
Holding has slipped down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium under Arteta. Whilst he has had some fine recent performances, and was even described as “brilliant” by the Spanish coach following his display against Crystal Palace last season, he’s just not a good tactical fit for the Gunners. Arsenal have built a defence around pace and ball-playing ability, whereas Holding is altogether more old-school.
tle, thThat’s what makes him ideal for Dyche. Whilst the 27-year-old is competent in possession, he excels when asked to defend with his back against the wall and be aerially dominant. For a club whose aim is to steer clear of relegation, rather than fight for the tiat’s exactly what’s required. Holding has what it takes to thrive in a Dyche system and make the Toffees more solid at the back.
Everton will have to significantly outdo Besiktas’ bid to get a deal done, but the opportunity is there and Everton would be wise to take it.
Yerry Mina. Whilst there isn’t a huge amount of money to spend at Goodison Park, the Merseyside club could certainly do better than Besiktas’ offering.
Arsenal haven’t put a fixed price tag on Holding, but football journalist Charles Watts, speaking to TeamTalk, had this to say about the bid from the Turkish club: “it’s a shocking bid…Holding can definitely go this summer, 100 percent…but someone’s going to have to pay a hell of a lot more than £2million to get that done.”
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Leicester City should check out Sunderland star if Kelechi Iheanacho heads for Everton: Opinion
Reports suggest that Everton are in for Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, so, the Foxes should check out Sunderland star instead
Enzo Maresca is currently in the process of trying to assemble a squad at Leicester City that is able to earn an immediate return to the Premier League, following the Foxes’ relegation to the Championship.
Moving swiftly to welcome the likes of Conor Coady, Harry Winks, Callum Doyle and Mads Hermansen, the Midlands club have also seen a number of important individuals head for pastures new.
Of course, suffering relegation to the second tier, and still possessing lots of quality within the squad, Leicester find themselves exposed to even further departures, meaning that they will need to have targets in mind if certain players do head for the exit door.
However, the Foxes do have the spending power to attract top players in the Championship and it will be interesting to see how the rest of the summer transfer window plays out from a Leicester perspective.
Kelechi Iheanacho attracting Everton interest
It was detailed in a report from Football Transfers that Everton have been eyeing up a potential move for experienced Leicester striker Jamie Vardy, with the article suggesting that the Toffees could bring two strikers to Merseyside this summer.
However, according to Football Insider, there is another Foxes frontman who has emerged on Everton’s radar, with Kelechi Iheanacho, who in ten years younger than Vardy, being the player that the Toffees are also interested in.
The report goes on to state that Everton have a limited budget to work with this summer but could be tempted in working on a deal for a marquee signing, as opposed to signing several players.
Leicester reportedly value Iheanacho around the £10-15 million mark and it is unknown at this stage, whether or not this is a figure that Everton will be prepared to pay for the striker whose deal at the King Power Stadium is set to expire next summer.
Would Ross Stewart be an ideal Iheanacho replacement for Leicester City?
Should Everton go on to complete the signing of Iheanacho, or any other club wins the race, then Sunderland frontman Ross Stewart is a player that should feature highly on Leicester’s radar.
The powerful forward was only limited to 13 league appearances last time out for the Black Cats, however, he managed an impressive 10 Championship goals in that time, proving to be a machine in the final third.
As per a report from the Northern Echo, Premier League newcomers Luton Town are interested in Stewart, however, they have other forward players on their radar, whilst Alex Neil is eyeing a reunion with the 26-year-old at Stoke City.
Not only is Stewart a source of goals, he is an effective target man who links well with his attacking teammates and progressing midfielders and would help get the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Harry Winks into the game in transition.
He is also a grafter and has a very good engine on him, proving to be impactful out of possession, something that could be admired by new Leicester boss Maresca, who will be keen on dominating the ball.
Imminent Leicester City signing paves the way for one of two exits at the King Power: Opinion
Football League World assess the imminent arrival of Mads Hermansen to Leicester City and discuss its significance for Daniel Iversen and Danny Ward.
Leicester City are closing in on the signing of Danish goalkeeper Mads Hermansen from Brøndby, according to John Percy of The Telegraph.
The Foxes were reported to have opened talks with Brøndby over a £5million deal for Hermansen, according to the Daily Mail.
Another report from Danish news outlet B.T. had suggested that the reason the 23-year-old didn’t feature in Brøndby’s pre-season fixture against Leicester’s fellow Championship outfit, Swansea City, was down to initial reports linking him with a move to a then ‘unnamed club’ which has since been revealed as Leicester.
Percy is now reporting that “Leicester are very close to signing Brondby goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, for a fee of around £5m. Medical already completed. Leicester now waiting for Hermansen’s work permit which is regarded as a formality. Another new addition for Enzo Maresca with more signings to come.”
The Foxes have already completed three signings this summer, in the form of Conor Coady from Wolverhampton Wanderers, Harry Winks from Tottenham Hotspur, and Callum Doyle on loan from Manchester City and look set to make yet another capture.
Leicester have been in the market for a new goalkeeper all summer, and according to earlier reports from the The Telegraph, the Foxes were keen to add Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen, but have now since moved on to Hermansen.
Who is Mads Hermansen?
Hermansen has been a part of Brøndby’s set-up since 2015, but only made his debut during the 2020/21 season. He has since gone on to make 70 appearances in all competitions for the Danish Superliga outfit.
The 23-year-old has also competed at various Danish age groups, including at U-21 level, making nine appearances for the side, but is yet to make a senior appearance despite a recent call-up to UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Northern Ireland and Slovenia in June.
Hermansen received the award of Brøndby Player of the Year for 2022 after putting in strong performances through the year, and his displays also caught the eye of Burnley boss Vincent Kompany, who flew out to Denmark to cast an eye over the keeper in early April, but no further talks with the Clarets have since materialised.
What does Leicester’s move for Hermansen mean for Danny Ward and Daniel Iversen?
Leicester’s current goalkeepers are Danny Ward, Daniel Iversen, and Alex Smithies, as well as youngster Jakub Stolarczyk.
Stolarczyk will either head out on loan, or remain as the development goalkeeper, and Smithies is more than adequate as back-up, which he will probably be content with at this stage of his career.
