Everton have signed the £6million-rated teenager and it says a lot about the Toffees’ majority shareholder.
According to the Sun, Everton’s deal to bring Lewis Gibson in from Newcastle United this summer could ultimately cost the Toffees £6million, and that kind of thinking shows just how seriously Farhad Moshiri is taking things at Goodison Park.
It is one thing paying big money for ready-made stars such as Davy Klaassen and Michael Keane, but quite another to invest so much in an unproven 17-year-old, no matter how talented he may be.
With a deal potentially reaching £6million either if the Toffees agree a compensation fee with Newcastle or if the deal is dealt with via tribunal, it will prove that Moshiri is in this for the long term, prepared to not only get Everton’s first-team ready to challenge both domestically and in Europe, but also to ensure the future takes care of itself.
Gibson has agreed a three-year deal with Everton and, while he has only just turned 17, he will be hoping he has broken into the first-team by the time that expires in 2020.
By then, if the player develops as many expect him to, a £6million move could prove to be an absolute steal, yet for now that remains purely hypothetical.
What is true is that Moshiri is willing to pay a huge sum for a young player with just two appearances for Newcastle’s under-23 side under his belt.
Given his age that in itself speaks volumes for his talent, but more than anything else it seems Everton have an investor who is here for the long haul, willing to pay for both the players who can make an immediate impact and those who are years away from the finished product.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
