Everton are reportedly planning to make a move to sign Royale Union Saint-Gilloise defender Ross Sykes. TEAMtalk.
The 26-year-old started his youth career at Burnley before joining Accrington Stanley. He made his first-team debut for the Owd Reds in 2016 and went on to make over 100 appearances for the club.
The Englishman joined the Belgian Pro League in 2022 and has since won a league title and a domestic cup.
This season he has put in eye-catching performances, scoring two goals and keeping 10 clean sheets in 24 appearances in all competitions. Furthermore, Sykes has helped his side mount a title charge, sitting top of the table with a four-point lead.
Now, TEAMtalk claim that Everton have expressed an interest in signing Sykes after being impressed by his recent eye-catching performances, and have sent scouts to keep a close eye on him.
However, the purchase of the defender will not be easy for the Merseyside club, with Burnley, Leeds United, Crystal Palace and Coventry City also interested in him.
Sykes’ existing contract expires at the end of next season, but USG has an option to extend his contract for another year. So they are in a strong position to demand a significant amount of money if they need to cash in on him in the summer.
Sykes to Everton
Sykes, 1.80 meters tall, is a right-footed central defender. He is fast, strong, excellent in the air, comfortable playing from the back and efficient in defensive contributions.
Everton currently have James Tarkowski, Jake O’Brien, Michael Keane and Jarrad Branthwaite as centre-backs. However, Keane’s existing contract expires at the end of this season, while Branthwaite has recently returned from a lengthy injury absence.
On the other hand, O’Brien played in the right back position. So it looks like David Moyes is looking for a new centre-back, and he likes dominant aerial options.
Sykes is a talented player and could be a smart signing for Everton if they buy him. However, it will be interesting to see whether the Merseyside club will eventually make a concrete move to secure his services.
#Everton #plan #sign #USG #defender #Ross #Sykes