Everton have signed Conor Coady and managed to fend off last-minute competition from Southampton for the Wolverhampton Wanderers ace.
The Toffees signed one proven Premier League defender earlier this summer by snapping up James Tarkowski from Burnley.
Yet with Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina now facing time on the sidelines through injury, Everton have pounced for another defender.
Everton have signed Conor Coady
Everton have now confirmed the signing of Wolves ace Coady, securing a season-long loan deal with a view to a permanent move.
Toffees director of football Kevin Thelwell – formerly of Wolves – has praised Coady as ‘top-quality’ having secured a reunion with the defender.
The 29-year-old, who hails from St Helens, has jumped at the chance to return closer to home, though the boyhood Liverpool fans will be putting those allegiances aside for Everton.
Coady will hopefully bring his leadership abilities to Goodison Park with Frank Lampard looking to make sure that Everton aren’t in a relegation battle again this season.
Everton did face competition for Coady though, with West Ham’s interest well-discussed in recent days.
An interesting claim has emerged from 90Min though, as they report that Southampton made a last-gasp approach to sign Coady.
The England international rejected the Saints though, instead preferring to sign for Everton.
Southampton have mostly focused on signing young players like Armel Bella-Kotchap, Romeo Lavia and Sekou Mara this summer.
Ralph Hasenhuttl seemingly wanted a Premier League veteran to come in and help those young players though, targeting a deal for Coady.
It all just made too much sense for Coady to join Everton though, allowing him to return to his roots whilst joining up with Thelwell and even new signing Ruben Vinagre again; they played together at Wolves.
That’s a blow for Southampton, who saw their defensive issues exposed in the 4-1 thrashing at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon.
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