Everton were right in the middle of things on deadline day.
As they worked to finalise Tyrique George’s loan from Chelsea – a deal that needed an extension via a deal sheet – it looked like Dwight McNeil was heading to Crystal Palace in a £20m move.
But Palace pulled out at the last moment, leaving McNeil and his partner visibly disappointed, something fans noticed on social media.
Earlier in the window, Everton had tried to bring in Youssef En-Nesyri and N’Golo Kante from Fenerbahce and Al Ittihad, but neither move came off. The players wanted to go elsewhere.
FIFA, however, have reportedly hampered their efforts, according to Fabrizio Romano.
N’Golo Kante and Youssef En-Nesyri stay put after rejecting Everton move
Everton had a loan bid for En-Nesyri accepted by Fenerbahce in mid-January, but the Morocco striker turned down the move, reportedly due to concerns over the weather.
The Toffees also spoke with Kante, though he was already looking to leave Al Ittihad for Fenerbahce, a deal that did not come together.
Romano reported on X that there was a verbal agreement in place between the clubs to swap the players, but FIFA stepped in and blocked it due to issues with the documentation.
Kante is set to leave Al Ittihad as a free agent when his contract runs out this summer. On the other hand, En-Nesyri still has time left on his Fenerbahce deal, which runs through July 2029.
One of the duo could still join Everton if they go on to terminate their contracts
Depending on how FIFA’s intervention has impacted either Kante or En-Nesyri, there is a possibility they could choose to end their contracts and move as free agents.
A free transfer can be completed outside the window, so there is still flexibility.
That is the case of players like Raheem Sterling and Jesse Lingard. Both are currently unattached after leaving Chelsea and FC Seoul, so Everton could still make a move for them even with the window shut.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is another England international without a club at the moment, alongside Dele Alli.
So even though the transfer deadline has passed, David Moyes still has options if he wants to strengthen his squad further.
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