Everton can still sign a host of free agents, including former Celtic midfielder Tom Rogic, to improve Frank Lampard’s side as their bid for Idrissa Gueye to follow Amadou Onana stalls.
Celtic hero Tom Rogic among free agents Everton could still sign this summer
Celtic hero Tom Rogic headlines a list of free agents Frank Lampard can still sign at Everton this summer. The Toffees boss is keen to strengthen his ranks at Goodison Park before the sales shut on September 1, but the return to Merseyside of Idrissa Gueye may yet collapse.
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Reports by L’Equipe now note Gueye has already agreed to personal terms with Everton to leave Paris Saint-Germain. But negotiations between the Premier League and Ligue 1 sides have hit an impasse, seeing Blues bosses pause discussions to see if PSG will now react.
Gueye had been expected to clinch his return to Goodison three years after leaving for the Parc des Princes in a £30m deal. His move would follow Lampard paying LOSC Lille £34m to sign Amadou Onana, which made the Belgium midfielder his fifth signing of the summer.
Everton had already signed James Tarkowski as a free agent this July, after the centre-back left Burnley at the end of his contract. Lampard has also agreed loans for Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Vinagre, Wolves’ Conor Coady, and got Dwight McNeil off Burnley for an initial £20m.
Further arrivals could follow, alongside any revived deal for Gueye to anchor the Goodison Park engine room again. So, which free agents still on the market would be worth Lampard considering signing to improve his Everton ranks over the final weeks of the summer sales?
Tom Rogic can bolster Everton engine room with deal to sign Australian free agent
Rogic could further improve the Everton engine room with Lampard pursuing a deal to sign the free agent. The Australian is still without a new club since leaving Celtic on the back of lifting a seventh Premiership title there in search of a fresh challenge, per Anthony Joseph.
Celtic wanted to retain Rogic, and planned to offer the 29-year-old a new contract, but he asked to leave a year before his deal ended. The Hoops obliged, having been an incredible servant through nine years at Parkhead with 272 games following his arrival for just £400k.
He also offered 46 goals and 49 assists across all competitions during his time in Glasgow. Whilst Rogic continually proved an influential cog with his ability to find pockets of space between the lines. Yet he is still without a side to show that skill during a World Cup year.
Rogic has been subject to interest from clubs in Indonesia and back in Australia, with The Scottish Sun citing several interested A-League outfits. Persija Jakarta also offered the 51-cap Socceroos star a lucrative contract in Indonesia. But Rogic’s skill exceeds those deals.
Frank Lampard can sign Florian Grillitsch after TSG Hoffenheim departure
Another midfielder still currently without a club who would merit interest from Everton is Florian Grillitsch. The Austrian left TSG Hoffenheim at the end of his contract in June after five years with the Bundesliga outfit, over which he featured 151 times in all competitions.
Grillitsch showed great defensive skill at the Rhein-Neckar Arena as the deep-lying option in Die Kraichgauer’s engine room. The 27-year-old is also able to operate in more attacking midfield roles, along with offering his head coach an extra option to put in central defence.
Playing predominantly from defensive areas held Grillitsch to eight goals and 11 assists for Hoffenheim. But he also spreads play superbly, and attracted interest at a host of sides in the off-season. Yet Kicker report his former agent’s demands saw possible moves collapse.
Now, the 33-cap international has reappointed his former advisor, Thomas Bohm, to agree a move. And Everton can seize on the situation to sign the free agent that Brighton & Hove Albion, Fiorentina, Galatasaray and Trabzonspor are all claimed to have backed away from.
Adnan Januzaj has attracted interest from Everton as a free agent
Adnan Januzaj has attracted interest from Everton since becoming a free agent at the end of June when his contract with Real Sociedad expired. AS note that the Toffees, West Ham United, Sevilla and Napoli are all exploring signing the former Manchester United forward.
The Belgian has also received a contract offer to join a Qatari outfit. But he would give his priority to a side in Europe, and one competing in the Champions League this term. While Dean Jones claims he would ‘definitely’ like to play for Hammers boss David Moyes again.
Januzaj played 60 games under Moyes, between the Scot’s spells in charge at Old Trafford and Sunderland. He would go on to make 168 appearances for Real Sociedad over the last five years for 23 goals and 21 assists across all competitions as a versatile attacking threat.
The 27-year-old can operate from either wing, and has enjoyed sporadic minutes at striker and in-behind the centre-forward. He also enjoyed his most minutes during a La Liga term with Real Sociedad last season, having played 1,626 over 33 fixtures – his most in a season.
Diego Costa could solve Everton striker situation after Dominic Calvert-Lewin injury
Diego Costa could help Lampard solve Everton’s situation at striker after Dominic Calvert-Lewin suffered a knee injury before the season. The forward sustained the issue in training ahead of the Toffees’ first match, which has seen Lampard start Anthony Gordon at striker.
Solomon Rondon is the Blues’ only other recognised senior striker, but missed the opening fixture through suspension. The Venezuelan then only played the final 26 minutes at Aston Villa, having only hit one goal over 20 Premier League appearances throughout last season.
Costa, meanwhile, spent the latter half of 2021 back in Brazil, helping Atletico Mineiro win Serie A. He joined the Belo Horizonte side as a free agent after leaving Atletico Madrid at the start of the year. But he only spent five months at the club for five goals in 19 games.
Now, Costa could be heading back to Europe, as Mundo Deportivo report the forward is in negotiations with Rayo Vallecano. The Estadio de Vallecas outfit are willing to pay him €1m (£16.5k-a/w) over a one-year contract before bonuses, but it is not his most lucrative offer.
Everton can sign a younger backup goalkeeper in free agent Luca Zidane
Everton have three first-team goalkeepers on their books in Jordan Pickford, Asmir Begovic and Andy Lonergan. The latter two only joined the Blues last year, but 35-year-old Begovic and 38-year-old Lonergan have a combined seven appearances to date – all from Begovic.
Lampard could now sign a younger goalkeeper to offer Pickford support long-term in free agent Luca Zidane. The son of France icon, Zinedine, has been without a club since leaving Rayo Vallecano at the end of last term, following two years at the club for 28 appearances.
Zidane was unable to hold down the starting position at the Estadio de Vallecas, but kept eight clean sheets. He also featured in La Liga against Atletico Madrid, Real Betis, Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid last season. While helping Rayo reach the Copa del Rey semi-final.
Now, Mundo Deportivo report Girona are interested in giving the 24-year-old his chance to remain in La Liga this summer. The Catalan club lack depth between the sticks after Adrian Ortola left to join KMSK Deinze. But Everton can still rival Girona to sign free agent, Zidane.
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