Everton could accept 'new Jake O'Brien offer' as he eyes January move

Everton will entertain offers for Jake O'Brien in the Jaunary transfer window after he missed out on a summer move.

The 25-year-old had a number of suitors during the summer window but no move materialised, despite suggestions that Everton were open to listening to offers.

Since then, he has fallen out of favour under David Moyes and has played just 16 minutes in their opening five Premier League games of the season.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Everton are still open to offers for O'Brien, while the player is keen to assess his options.

If the Republic of Ireland international does not regain a regular place in the starting XI before the January transfer window opens, there is a growing feeling he will move on.

Any sale will have to be on the right terms for Everton, who are already lacking depth in their squad, but they will not rule out O'Brien's sale as things stand.

Could Everton accept offers for Jake O'Brien?

Former Everton scout Bryan King told Football Insider on 9 September that O'Brien is frustrated with his situation at Everton and could demand more playing time.

However, if he does not receive assurances about his role in the squad, there is a signficant chance he could look to move on when the mid-season transfer window opens.

After Everton opened the door to his exit in the closing stages of the summer window, their stance is unlikely to have changed, and clubs remain on alert over O'Brien's stance.

"Jake O'Brien has lost his place in the squad, and that's not ideal for anybody," Brown told Football Insider.

"Last season he played a lot of games, but predominantly as a right-back, and I don't think he was necessarily happy with that, I'm not convinced Everton were either.

"But at the start of this season, he's hardly featured, they've got their two centre-backs set, and they're not using him at right-back any more.

"So from the player's point of view, of course he's going to be interested in a move away if he's not playing and he's not really a major part of the plans.

"On the Everton side of things, they were listening to offers for him in the summer but nothing came in, and I don't expect they will have changed their stance on that.

"When the January window opens, they're going to listen to new offers, and there is every chance he could be allowed to leave if the right offer comes in, because again, he's not playing."

Which clubs are interested in signing O'Brien?

Amid renewed speculation about O'Brien's future at Everton and after a slow start to the season, a number of clubs are believed to have been placed on high alert.

During the summer window, Leeds United were among the Premier League clubs linked with the centre-back, although no deal materialised before the window closed.

Meanwhile, King told Football Insider earlier this month that Crystal Palace had agreed a £24million deal with Everton in the closing stages of the summer window.

The deal fell through, however, and all parties were prepared to move on, but the Eagles could be tempted to reignite their interest in January.

A return to Palace would have made sense for O'Brien, after he spent a couple of years in their academy before making the move to Lyon as they could not guarantee game time.