Breaking: Everton ‘accelerated’ on deal in last few hours – €25m agreement, transfer ‘a matter of time> details…

Everton are set to pay €18m to Lyon for defender Jake O’Brien, with an agreement in place between the two clubs.

That’s according to Foot Mercato, who report that the defender is ‘about to return to the Premier League’ after his time in France.

They report that O’Brien, who has been a ‘real revelation’ since arriving in a €1m deal from Crystal Palace, is about to bring his time across the Channel to an end and join Everton.

According to FM’s information, Lyon have agreed an €18m deal with Everton for the defender and O’Brien has also agree to make the move to Goodison Park, where he will sign a five-year deal.

O’Brien was left out of Lyon’s pre-season friendly with St. Pauli on Wednesday to protect him as the deal with the Toffees was progressing and the transfer should be finalised this weekend once he’s undergone a medical.                  Lyon are keen to get the deal over the line as they need to sell this summer and will make a nice profit on O’Brien, who will be the first of several potential big exits for the French club.

The Toffees have ‘accelerated’ their efforts for the defender in the last few hours and his departure from Lyon is now ‘only a matter of time’.

READ MORE…

Jake O’Brien set for Everton medical as deal agreed in principle – Fabrizio Romano

Everton have agreed a deal in principle to sign Lyon centre-back Jake O’Brien, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Italian transfer specialist reported via his personal X account (27 July) that the player’s medical could take place on Sunday (28 July) if personal terms are agreed

It is understood that a five-year contract is on the table at Goodison Park, with the Toffees maintaining an interest in O’Brien since the summer transfer window opened.

Everton agree deal for Jake O’Brien transfer
The Toffees’ defence was one of Sean Dyche’s greatest assets last season, with Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski forming an unbreakable bond ahead of shot-stopper Jordan Pickford.

However, the centre-back pairing was the only real option for Dyche last term, with Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey dropping down the pecking order, and Mason Holgate being loaned out.

With Branthwaite now being linked with a move away from Goodison Park this summer, and refusing to put pen to paper on a new contract [Daily Mail], the Toffees are clearly preparing for a possible defensive exit.

O’Brien, a talented defender in Ligue 1, is much less likely to demand a wage up to £160,000 a week, making him a much more suitable option on Merseyside as the club struggle with financial concerns.

Dan Friedkin looked set to complete a takeover at Goodison Park, which would have helped solve some of those problems, but the AS Roma owner decided against buying the club due to the debt currently owed.