The views on this page are taken from the local and national media and do not necessarily reflect the views of Everton.
Everton could rival Roma for the signature of Lille right-back Mehmet Zeki Celik.
That is according to Fanatik, the Turkish outlet, which reckons Celik’s club, second in Ligue 1, has begun negotiations with Roma.
Everton, though, are tipped to move for the 23-year-old, who has played 83 games for Lille since joining from Istanbulspor in the summer of 2018 and has 18 senior Turkey caps.
French publication Onze Mondial links Everton with anther defender in the form of Real Sociedad centre-half Modibo Sagnan.
The paper states Everton have “followed” 21-year-old Sagnan, who left Rennes in France for his current team in July 2019, for an extensive period.
Italian publication Tuttomercatoweb, however, insists the defender coveted by Everton is Mohamed Simakan of Strasbourg.
Simakan is a France Under-20 international and established himself as a fixture in Strasbourg’s team following a debut in July 2019.
AC Milan were reportedly in the box seat in the chase for 20-year-old Simakan but Everton – and Premier League counterparts Wolverhampton Wanderers – are said to be “pressing for an agreement” to take the player.
In Friday’s Daily Telegraph it is said Everton will demand £9m to sanction the departure of Bernard.
Brazilian forward Bernard is supposedly a target for Dubai club Al Nasr, while there is apparently interest from the player’s old Shakhtar Donetsk boss Paulo Fonseca at Roma.
The Daily Mail is among a number of national papers reporting on Jill Scott’s return to Everton.
Midfielder Scott, who had seven years with Everton before leaving for Manchester City ahead of 2013/14, has moved in the opposite direction on a loan deal until the end of the campaign.
The paper quotes Everton manager Willie Kirk, who said: “I am delighted to be able to bring Jill back to the Club.
“Her achievements in the game are incredible, and that was recognised with her MBE in the 2020 New Year's Honours list.
“She is very excited to join us and I expect her to challenge and raise our standards, adding to the good work we are doing.
“It may only be a loan deal until the end of the season but I feel she can have a long-term impact to the journey we are currently on.”
The Liverpool Echo, meanwhile, speculates over potential player movement before the transfer window closes at 11pm on 1 February.
“The Blues are looking to strike a deal with Burnley for the sale of Jonjoe Kenny,” states the paper, adding that Burnley “may be biding their time” over a move for the right-back in the hope of agreeing a lower fee closer to the deadline.
In the same report, it is suggested Everton Under-23 midfielder Josh Bowler, whose Goodison contract expires in June, “is hoping to secure a move… in this window”.
Anthony Gordon features elsewhere in the Echo, the teenage forward explaining which elements of his game need improving for a First-Team call.
Originally talking to the Club’s matchday programme for this weekend’s visit of Sheffield Wednesday, Gordon said: “I need to be a consistently reliable defender for the team. That is what I’d say I need to improve – and what the manager has said to me.
“I work hard on it every day. It has to come from me, no one else can do it for me.
“If I really want to improve and that is my weakness, it is up to me to focus on it and make it a strong point. I think I press really well because I am eager to win back the ball and go and attack.
“Where I need to improve is getting back into shape quicker and being harder to beat, instead of pressing, then waiting and not getting back into shape – being the odd one out.”
