Everton have entered the race for in-demand Bristol City defender Adam Webster, according to the Sun.
24-year-old Webster signed from Ipswich last summer for £3.6million, and his former club negotiated a sell-on clause.
According to the Sun that puts his starting price at £10million but the same paper’s Alan Nixon has previously said that Aston Villa are also interested and would be willing to pay £12million.
Newcastle have also been credited with an interest in the centre-back.
Good move for Everton?
Everton need a new centre-back, with both Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka out of contract this summer. Yerry Mina had a stop-start first season for Everton after suffering injuries after his £27million move from Barcelona. And there will be question marks over the ability of Matthew Pennington and Mason Holgate to step up after their Championship loans. Webster is a reasonably cheap option for a player who impressed so much in his first season for Bristol City that he scooped both player of the year awards, from supporters and senior players. The 6ft3 player was brilliant defensively for Bristol City – good in the air at the back and at set pieces going forward – but also offers a lot with the ball at his feet. He was behind only Jake Cooper and Mike van der Hoorn in the Championship for successful passes by centre-backs in the final third of the pitch.
This is Futbol rating: 8/10
Likely to happen?
Webster looks like he might have the pick of a number of Premier League clubs and one of the big questions might be who will offer him a regular berth in the centre of the defence. For Villa that depends on whether they can bring Tyrone Mings back from Bournemouth. Newcastle haven’t signed anyone yet this summer and are in a state of flux at the moment, with Rafa Benitez’s contract set to expire at the end of June. That could open the door for Everton to make a serious offer for the 24-year-old. Bristol City will be in no rush to sell though. Webster is under contract until 2022 and is a key player for Bristol City. if they do sell, they’ll want to get as much money for him as they can, and that would point away from a quick deal.
This is Futbol rating: 6/10