Everton have entered advanced talks with Lyon over Ligue 1 winger Ernest Nuamah as Sean Dyche’s look to fight off competition from Premier League rivals Fulham.
- Exclusive from Graeme Bailey
A Fulham side coached by ex-Toffees boss Marco Silva have already ran into the brick wall in pursuit of one Olympique Lyonnais player this month.
The Cottagers wanted to bring in France Under 21 star Rayan Cherki. But despite making an offer in the region of Lyon’s asking price – £12 million – a deal failed to materialise.
Cherki, who has also seen potential moves to Crystal Palace, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain fall by the wayside, could now complete an unexpected U-turn and extend a contract which was due to expire in the summer of 2025.
Team-mate Ernest Nuamah, however, remains on Fulham’s radar.
But with Everton now holding advanced talks with Lyon, lightning could strike twice for Marco Silva’s outfit.
Everton ahead of Fulham in Ernest Nuamah race
Everton have an advantage in their pursuit of Nuamah.
That is because John Textor – Lyon’s co-owner – is hoping to complete a takeover of the Goodison Park side, while providing a pathway for some of Lyon’s most talented players to cross the channel and end up on Merseyside.
Textor has already set up a deal that would see the £33 million-rated midfielder Orel Mangala join Everton, a few months after he left Nottingham Forest for Les Gones, HITC understands.
Fiorentina are reportedly looking to snatch Mangala from under Everton’s noses. But The Toffees appear well placed to land at least one Lyon player before Friday’s 11pm deadline.
While the stylish, press-resistant Mangala would provide further competition in a midfield boasting Tim Iroegbunam, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Abdoulaye Doucoure and James Garner, Nuamah is an exciting, direct winger who – alongside the twinkle-toed Iliman Ndiaye – could give a largely workmanlike Everton side a dash of magic.
After a loan spell in France from RWD Molenbeek – another of the teams under Textor’s umbrella – Lyon signed Nuamah permanently for £24 million earlier this summer. Everton were reportedly keen at the time too.
Lyon star could follow in Mohammed Kudus’ footsteps
HITC understands that any deal which takes from the banks of the Rhone to Stanley Park will also be a temporary one.
Ghana international Nuamah came through the fabled Right to Dream academy. And, like compatriot Mohammed Kudus, he moved to a major European league after first landing at Nordsjaelland in Denmark.
“Ernest is first and foremost a dribbler,” Nuamah’s former Nordsjaelland coach Flemming Pedersen said, via Breaking the Lines. “He is incredibly fast, has a huge acceleration, and a good agility.
He is primarily left-footed, but can also use the right. He is a great individualist with tremendous power, who has great potential to also become a skilled team player.”
Orel Mangala, meanwhile, did not take part in Lyon’s training session on Wednesday. Head coach Pierre Sage appeared to suggest that this was not due to any injury issues either, with Lyon seemingly keen to avoid an injury which could scupper a late-summer departure.
“Orel Mangala was not present,” Sage told the official Olympique Lyonnaiss website. “It’s a precautionary measure.”
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