Following Seamus Coleman’s retirement, Everton are finally on the hunt for a long-term replacement at right-back and have now submitted an official offer for Brooke Norton-Cuffy.
Replacing Coleman won’t be an easy task, but doing so by signing a Hale End graduate who has since become a Serie A star certainly wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Only four defenders made more dribbles than the 22-year-old in Serie A last season and if David Moyes is targeting a modern-day fullback, then the Englishman should be his top target.
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Should Everton sign Norton-Cuffy? |
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Pros |
Cons |
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Age – he’s still just 22 years old |
Would be first big move |
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Epitome of a modern-day fullback |
Won just 1.75 tackles per game last season |
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Would count towards home-grown quota |
Struggles aerially |
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Knows English football well after spells at Arsenal, Millwall, Coventry |
Missed 10 games through injury 25/26 |
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Can play as a winger as well as a right-back |
Still not experienced |
There’s a lot for Everton to consider. Given where they’re at in their project under Friedkin, however, Norton-Cuffy is exactly the player that they should be targeting.
He is someone that is full of potential and has already shown more than enough glimpses of talent at Genoa. A return to the Premier League as an established right-back couldn’t be better timed.
Whether it’s the Toffees who win the race for his signature is the big question. According to reports in Italy, as relayed by Sport Witness, Everton have tabled a formal offer to sign Norton-Cuffy worth €15m (£13m).
Alas, that bid is still short of Genoa’s €20m (£17m) valuation and the Italian club are set to ignite a bidding war to drive up the price of the Englishman in a blow for the Toffees.
Earlier reports claimed that it is the Merseyside club who lead the race for his signature, but whether that changes as Genoa’s valuation increases remains to be seen.
The young defender is certainly worth the chase as far as Everton are concerned. Once described as Arsenal’s “very own Reece James” by Como scout Ben Mattinson, Norton-Cuffy could have the chance to earn Premier League redemption at long last this summer.
Everton launch Douglas Luiz approach
Alongside Norton-Cuffy, Everton are also looking to welcome another midfielder this summer. Recent reports have claimed that they’ve already made an approach to sign Douglas Luiz. The midfielder is back at Juventus after his brief return on loan to Aston Villa last season, and desperately needs a move.
Everton are among the clubs looking to take full advantage and hand the Brazilian one last chance to revive his career in English football. Having already welcomed Hayden Hackney, the addition of Luiz would complete the Toffees’ midfield once and for all.
