Everton make fresh move to sign £13m midfielder who they now want to sign ‘quickly’

Everton started the Premier League season off in the worst possible way yesterday, falling to a crushing 3-0 home defeat.

Admittedly, welcoming Brighton and Hove Albion was never going to be an easy task, buoyed by a new manager and bolstered by a whole host of new, expensive faces.

They are the kind of side every team aspires to emulate, and even if the Toffees had the better of the opening 60 minutes, they still found themselves 2-0 down and with a red card just around the corner.

That recklessness from Ashley Young proved pivotal in killing off the game, and has left the Toffees extremely light in the right-back position now.

And yet, despite this glaring weakness which has been evident for years now, Sean Dyche and Kevin Thelwell are still directing their attention to the midfield.

Everton set to make fresh bid for Edoardo Bove

Despite Tim Iroegbunam already impressing in the engine room, as a sole shining light in yesterday’s disappointing result, the scouting team are seemingly not content with the quality they have around him.

Idrissa Gana Gueye did reveal the dark side of having him in the side, with his carelessness in possession effectively gifting Brighton their second, whilst James Garner still seeks to return from injury.

An extra body wouldn’t hurt, but investing the €15m (£15m) asking price that AS Roma want for Everton target Edoardo Bove into a more pertinent position might be more intelligent.

However, that is not the case, with Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport reporting that the Toffees have ‘intensified contacts’ with Roma for the 22-year-old.

In fact, it is said that they have ‘made another move’ for Bove, hoping to ‘negotiate quickly’ and tie things up with speed.

Who is Everton and Fulham target Edoardo Bove?

Born in Rome but of German-Italian descent, the 5 foot 10 midfielder has already admitted he models his game around his current manager Daniele De Rossi.

However, seemingly unfavored by the Jose Mourinho replacement, there represents a great bargain to be had for whoever is willing to take the £13m punt on Bove.

Tactically disciplined and able to both create and defend, he was a particular favourite of the legendary Portuguese coach, who affectionately called him a ‘sick dog’ just last year for his intensity in the midfield.

Just what Everton are craving to play beside Iroegbunam, perhaps Bove could in fact be just what they need to solve their outstanding issues.

The Toffees now sit rock bottom of the table having shipped three goals against Brighton & Hove Albion but have the opportunity to put things right on the weekend.

Everton will be coming up against Tottenham Hotspur who do not get their season underway until Monday night.

However, the Blues are going to have to focus on their own issues with now just under two weeks until the transfer window shuts.

Despite it being just the first game of the season, there has been some big reactions to come from Everton’s defeat and there’s one that Chris Sutton just cannot believe.