New Everton defender Conor Coady has told talkSPORT that speaking with Frank Lampard over the Toffees boss’ plans to sign him from Wolves gave the England ace ‘goosebumps’.
Conor Coady opens up on Frank Lampard chats over signing for Everton
Everton have signed Conor Coady on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers to strengthen Frank Lampard’s defence. The deal for the England international includes an option to buy for £12m next summer, while the Express & Star note he cannot be recalled.
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Lampard strived to finalise a move for the former Molineux captain after seeing his centre-half options deplete at the weekend. Ben Godfrey was forced off 18 minutes into their 1-0 loss to Chelsea with a fractured fibula, while Yerry Mina sustained an ankle ligament injury.
Godfrey will miss the next three months while he recovers, and Mina faces an unspecified spell out of action. They were a part of Lampard’s first-choice back-three with free signing James Tarkowski, whilst Mason Holgate came on as Michael Keane was left on the bench.
Coady will provide Lampard with a vastly experienced alternative to field beside Tarkowski when Everton visit Aston Villa on Saturday. The 29-year-old Liverpool product has returned to Merseyside after registering 151 Premier League appearance in four seasons at Wolves.
Only once did Coady fail to feature in a top-flight fixture after helping the Molineux natives gain promotion in 2018, prior to the 2022/23 season. He moved to the Black Country from Huddersfield Town in 2015, and helped win the Championship under Nuno Espirito Santo.
Frank Lampard left Conor Coady in awe while discussing Goodison Park switch
Lampard will get a good chance to see where Coady is at with his fitness before a possible Everton debut against Aston Villa. The Toffees boss already knows how he intends to use the 10-cap England defender in his squad, having discussed his role while debating a deal.
“Getting the opportunity to speak to the manager was a bit surreal,” Coady stated. “I got goosebumps a little bit. I was just on the phone thinking: ‘I’m speaking to Frank Lampard’.
“Listening to how he was speaking to me, one of the greatest English players of all time was on the phone to me saying what he wants to do with Everton. It was really surreal.”
Coady will easily be able to step into the three-man defence Lampard is favouring for the start of the season after signing with Everton on loan from Wolves. He featured regularly in a three-man line at Molineux under Nuno, and throughout Bruno Lage’s first term at the helm.
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