Brooke Norton-Cuffy to Everton transfer decision – ‘It’s going to down to the wire’
Everton could make a late decision in their pursuit of a right-back after a new target emerged.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, as Genoa right-back Brooke Norton-Cuffy has now been linked with a move to Merseyside.
Zakaria El Ouahdi is high on Everton’s transfer list, as David Moyes prioritises the signing of a right-back in the January transfer window.
Nathan Patterson has been linked with a move away from Everton, whilst Seamus Coleman’s season has been hampered by injuries.
Everton to make decision in days on new right-back
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – thinks a decision on Norton-Cuffy will “be made over the next seven days.”
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness believes the former Arsenal player is a “talent.”
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Well, look, he is a talent. He’s a very good attacking fullback. I looked into him, and he is definitely, he’s the right age. I think, what, 22?
“Definitely a prospect. Again, we started to see some signs from Nathan Patterson at last. I mean, I remember when Nathan scored, sorry, he didn’t score, but he was playing some great games for Scotland, and he really looked a class full back, but it never quite worked out with him with injuries and different things.
“And he was one of the acquisitions back in the Rafa Benitez time at Everton. But I think, again, it’s going to be a decision whether he goes out, possibly on loan, which has been talked about, or he goes out on a sale, and we bring in this Norton-Cuffy, who does without doubt look like a decent prospect going forward.
“He is stronger going forward than he is in defence, but I think with the way that the defensive options are shaping up, that might be something that Moyes quite likes. So it’s going to be another one that’s going to be a decision that’s going to come down to the wire, and it’ll be made over the next seven days, I’m sure.”
Everton could sanction Beto sale
At the other end of the pitch Moyes also wants to strengthen his attacking options, with striker Beto potentially leaving Everton in January.
The 27-year-old is now behind Thierno Barry in the pecking order, and has scored just 13 Premier League goals since his arrival in 2023.
Italian clubs Como and Fiorentina have both registered their interest in Beto, with Everton not able to sign a new forward until he departs.