Everton have been a Premier League side who haven’t been afraid to splash the cash in recent years, though the transfer targets the Toffees have landed in recent windows have left a lot to be desired.
Even under the watchful eye of acclaimed transfer guru Marcel Brands, Everton have been nothing of a train wreck over the years when it comes to new signings, with Rafa Benitez’s additions last summer a testament to that claim.
To make matters worse, the transfer targets Everton have missed out on over the years have gone on to do incredible things from winning the UEFA Champions League to now being sold for £80m, and here is an entire XI of the players the Merseyside club failed to sign.
GK – Ben Foster
Jordan Pickford may have his critics, but there’s a good reason Everton have rarely been linked with a world-class goalkeeper to replace the England international, though Ben Foster was linked to a move to Goodison Park some years ago.
Reports indicated that both Everton and Chelsea were keen on signing the Watford captain, and as a backup to Pickford, Foster could have been an excellent option, not to mention an incredible figure to help push the club’s social media presence with his Cycling GK YouTube empire.
RB – Alessandro Florenzi
A member of Italy’s Euro 2020-winning squad, Alessandro Florenzi has been linked with a move to Everton for some time, with the on-loan AC Milan star yet to win a permanent transfer away from AS Roma.
With the versatile defender enjoying a solid season with the Rossoneri, this summer could finally be the time the 31-year-old earns a full-time transfer from Roma, and if Everton can stay up, Florenzi could be an ideal transfer target for Frank Lampard’s side.
CB – Harry Maguire
The first big hitter on this list and potentially a transfer Everton are glad never came to fruition, the Toffees were linked with a move for Harry Maguire during his days with Leicester City before Manchester United came in with an £80m world-record move for the defender.
Whilst Everton have been a mess this season, there’s no denying that Maguires’s time with United this year has been one to forget, and the England international could soon find himself on the Red Devils’ bench under incoming manager Erik Ten Hag.
CB – Gabriel Magalhaes
It’s pretty easy to forget that before Gabriel Magalhaes moved to Arsenal, the defender was heavily linked with a move to Everton, with the Premier League side in fact battling Napoli for the centre-back’s signature.
However, as we know, Arsenal swooped in at the last second to sign the defender, and this season Gabriel has formed one of the league’s best centre-back partnerships alongside Ben White, much to the dismay of Everton and their lack of consistency at the back.
LB – Andy Robertson
In an alternate reality, Andy Robertson has formed the greatest fullback pairing England has ever seen with Jonjoe Kenny at Everton, yet in this world, it is Trent Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool where the Scottish international currently holds this title.
The former Hull City star was reportedly once on Everton’s radar before the Toffees passed up on a move, a decision which would lead to Liverpool signing the fullback and in doing so developing one of the best left-backs in the Premier League era.
CM – Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
From one failed Premier League signing to another, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was reportedly close to joining Everton in the summer of 2020 before, just like Arsenal with Gabriel, Tottenham came in right at the death to sign the Danish international.
Whilst the deal hasn’t been as revolutionary as a Robertson at Liverpool, Hojbjerg has been a great servant for Spurs and offered some much-needed leadership to the squad, something Everton are lacking massively heading into the summer window.
CM – Weston McKennie
Another failed transfer target that could be reignited this summer, Weston McKennie was on the radar for Everton for the past two summers before joining Juventus on loan and signing for the Italian giants on a permanent deal.
Whilst the Texan-born midfielder might stay in Turin this summer, there’s always the possibility that McKennie could depart Juventus, and for Everton, if they stay up, the former Schalke 04 star could be an exceptional addition to the squad.
RM – Thomas Lemar
Everton have had their fair share of bad wingers, which is why missing out on Thomas Lemar would come as a sting in the butt to the Toffees, who were linked to the Atletico Madrid star a few windows ago.
Whilst the France international has failed to hit the heights many expected from the former AS Monaco superstar after moving to Spain, Lemar is still a quality winger with a vast skillset that would suit Everton’s needs to a tee.
LM – Wilfried Zaha
Three things seem to be guaranteed in life; death, taxes and Everton being linked with Wilfried Zaha at least once every six months, with the Crystal Palace star no doubt set to be rumoured with another move to Goodison Park this summer.
The Ivorian international has this year enjoyed a brilliant campaign under Patrick Vieira, and despite being linked with Everton for some years, this could be the window where Zaha states his intention to stay in south London with his boyhood club.
ST – Victor Osimhen
Everton have always been linked with some big-name players over the years, and Victor Osimhen is another talent who slipped through the Toffees’ grasp before going on to explode in Italy with Napoli.
Now a reported £100m target for Arsenal and Manchester United, Osimhen could join the annals of top players once linked to Everton who went on to do great things, with the Nigerian set for a huge move this summer.
ST – Erling Haaland
From Manchester United to Leeds United, it seems like every club has once had a chance of signing Erling Haaland, and Everton are no different, with the Toffees considering the Norwegian superstar in 2019.
However, just like Robertson, Everton turned down the chance to sign the striking sensation, with Haaland developing into one of the best attackers in football and now set to dominate the Premier League with Manchester City next season.
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