What The Papers Say – 22 September

The views on this page are taken from the local and national media and do not necessarily reflect the views of Everton.

kicker magazine in Germany features quotes from Atletico Madrid sporting director Andrea Berta, who claims Everton are one of three clubs in talks with the Spaniards over a potential deal for right-back Santiago Arias.

Colombian Arias, 28, has repeatedly been linked with Goodison Park over the past 12 months, perhaps owing to his five years working with Everton Director of Football Marcel Brands at PSV Eindhoven.

Arias switched to Madrid following the 2018 World Cup where he played all four of his country’s games.

Roma and Paris Saint-Germain are also said to be in negotiations for Arias, with Bayer Leverkusen holding an interest.

Fernando Llorente has not been granted a shirt number for the new season with Napoli.

That’s according to Neapolitan publication Napolipiu, leading to speculation the striker could be set for a Premier League return with either Everton or West Ham United.

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti signed the player for Napoli 12 months ago and, reports claim, would like to bring Spaniard Llorente back to the English top-flight where he has played for Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur.

In the Daily Mirror it is suggested Everton have joined Premier League counterparts Leicester City, Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion in the chase for Brentford left-back Rico Henry.

The 23-year-old Midlander, formerly with Walsall, was ever-present last season as Brentford reached the Championship play-off final and his started both his team’s games at the outset of this campaign.

The Daily Star names Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the paper’s Winner of the Weekend following this season’s second round of Premier League matches.

Everton striker Calvert-Lewin hit his first Blues’ hat-trick in Saturday’s 5-2 win over West Bromwich Albion, with the Star insisting the player is “in the form of his life”.

A number of papers suggest Everton rebuffed summer interest from Manchester United in Calvert-Lewin.

The Englishman, who has four goals from two Premier League appearances this term, joined Everton from Sheffield United four years ago and signed new five-years terms in March this year.

One report claimed Everton told United it would cost a minimum of £80m to take 23-year-old Calvert-Lewin.

A quintet of young Everton players are destined for loan moves, according to the Liverpool Echo.

Everton Under-23s beat Leicester City 3-0 on Monday night and two of the goalscorers – Callum Connolly and Josh Bowler, the pair netting either side of an Ellis Simms’ strike – are likely to move elsewhere on temporary deals, says manager David Unsworth.

Beni Baningime, Dennis Adeniran and Nathan Broadhead could also spend time away from Goodison Park.

"They're not here playing because we're hand-picking them," explained Unsworth.

"We want them to go out on loan and giving them a game in the Under-23s gives them a showcase to get that loan.

"Dennis, Beni, Nathan, Josh, Callum, they are all players I expect to be out on loan but the loan [window] is a little bit later so I understand why clubs haven't taken them yet.

"It'll probably be last-minute for most of them but I certainly expect all of them to go out on loan. On tonight's performance [against Leicester] they have certainly shown they are top young players."

Former Everton defender Michael Ball looks ahead to the Blues’ “massive” Wednesday night Carabao Cup clash with Fleetwood Town in the same paper.

Everton know victory over the League One team followed by success against either West Ham United or Hull City next week would book a quarter-final spot.

“It's a very important game for us on Wednesday and we've got to keep this momentum up – when you're winning, people are smiling and people are going to work harder for you,” stated Ball.

“As soon as you win silverware, it finally clicks for how you can go on and win more. You naturally pick up that winning mentality, you get that adrenaline rush.”