Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder.
Everton has been linked to Sheffield’s defender John Egan since the January transfer window. Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti has been eyeing the Irishman for a while now, eager to sign him back in January which didn’t go through.
The Italian is looking to strengthen his team with a new central defender. Only having Mason Holgate, Michael Keane and Yerry Mina at his disposal to work with. At the time Ancelotti bid £30 million for the 27-year-old player. They’re currently the 11/2 favourites.
Chris Wilder’s star John Egan is attracting a lot of attention from a lot of Clubs. One of them being Tottenham Hotspur, who are eager to snatch the Irish international from Sheffield United. The Blades defender has gained all that attention due to his excellent performance at Sheffield since he got signed in 2018.
Tottenham comes in right behind Everton to most likely succeed in persuading the player to move, however Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has stated he’s negotiating a new contract with the player. The Irishman himself said he’s happy at Sheffield for now.
One of the problems for Tottenham is that Wilder won’t let go of his star player without a fight and the club will have dig deep into their pockets to try and sign Egan. Their odds are currently at 17/1.
No doubt Egan's price has risen since moving up to the Premier League and enjoying a fruitful year. Now, a move to Manchester United isn't the most outrageous shout, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to continue his rebuild at the club.
In doing so, the Red Devils' boss is going to need a plethora of signings, but more than anywhere, this will be needed at the back. Whilst United have had the third-best defence in the league this season, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof remain the only two names consistently within the squad.
The like of Eric Bailly, Marcos Rojo and Axel Tuanzebe struggle to make it our of the physio room, meaning depth at the back has become a serious problem for Solskjaer. With this said, a move for Egan makes a lot of sense, and if they can wrap this deal up on the cheap, expect a move to happen.
However, with Everton clear favourites and most likely guaranteeing Egan a starting role, United's odds sit at 9/1.
Another club rivalling to try and snatch up Egan is Wolverhampton Wanderers. Along with Everton and Spurs, they’ve been eyeing the defender for a while now and might make their move during this summer’s transfer window.
The Irishman has made a great impression on Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo in his first season in the Premier League, being a vital key in Sheffield’s defence. Wolves are searching the market for centre-backs but have been unsuccessful in recent transfer windows and are now hoping they might be able to secure the Irish international this summer. The player is currently valued close to £30m, but Sheffield might increase that price in order to get a good deal for the rising star.
By Yasmine El Farissi
