Everton veteran Ashley Young has admitted that Sean Dyche tried to sign him for Premier League rivals Burnley in a previous transfer window.
Believe it or not, the atmosphere at Finch Farm – at least according to one of Everton’s summer signings – remains positive.
While the terraces threaten to turn toxic, the language as blue as the Toffees’ home shirt, Sean Dyche continues to keep spirits high behind the scenes, Ashley Young full of praise for Everton’s gravel-voiced gaffer and the togetherness he has created in the camp.
The former England international, a Premier League champion with Manchester United a decade ago, reunited with his one-time Watford team-mate and manager over the summer, Dyche finally getting his mitts on Young after trying and failing to lure him to Burnley.
Sean Dyche wanted Everton’s Ashley Young at Burnley
“Its brilliant to be honest. When I was younger and he was a senior pro, you look at certain players and you think ‘which ones are going to be managers’?” Young tells Sky Sports.
“You could tell he had the leadership skills. The way he commanded the dressing room… he had respect of everyone in the dressing room.
“I knew what he gives. I spoke to him a few years ago as well. He tried to sign me (for Burnley). So I knew straight away, when speaking for him, that I wanted to sign (at Everton). I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.
“The way the manager is, the way his staff and the players are around the training ground, its just a fantastic mix.”
According to The Athletic, Burnley held talks with Young back in 2021, the versatile wideman eventually opting to re-join Aston Villa after a spell at Inter Milan.
Now 38, Young remains a picture of professionalism and consistency. He has started every one of Everton’s seven Premier League games this season, switching from the left to a right-back role after Vitaliy Mykolenko returned from a spell out with injury.
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