Sources: Everton told £20m Norton-Cuffy offer will be accepted
Genoa have played a £17-20million price tag on Brooke Norton-Cuffy amid interest from Everton and two of their Premier League rivals.
Newcastle and West Ham have also been keeping tabs on the 22-year-old’s situation with a move in mind during the January transfer window.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, Everton‘s interest in Norton-Cuffy comes as they aim to bolster at right-back.
David Moyes has been planning to sign a long-term successor to Seamus Coleman, while Jake O’Brien is seen as a stop-gap option in that position.
The former Arsenal academy graduate has emerged as an option as he is keen to return to English football after impressing since his move to the Serie A.
Everton join race to sign Brooke Norton-Cuffy
Football Insider exclusively revealed on 19 December that Everton are targeting a new right-back as a priority ahead of the January transfer window.
They have since been linked with moves for the likes of Jayden Bogle and Zakaria El Ouahdi, and now Norton-Cuffy has emerged as a potential option.
The Genoa right-back has thrived since his move to Serie A, but there is a feeling that his £20million price tag could prove difficult to reach in January.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “Everton, we know their sort of plan to strengthen a right back, they need a long-term successor to Seamus Coleman.
“He, obviously, has had his issues with injuries and everything else.
“Jake O’Brien is a centre-back and has done a good job at right-back this season, but right-back is a key area of the team that David Moyes wants to strengthen.
“Norton-Cuffy is another player they have looked at as somebody who could come to the club and improve what’s been a problematic position for Everton.
“He’s a player that’s proven himself over there in Italy with Genoa. He’s had a very good season for them in Serie A.
“I’m sure the player himself would love the opportunity to come back to England and show that he’s good enough to play in the Premier League.
“He came though the Arsenal ranks before joining Genoa in search of first-team football, and he’s had a quicker pathway there and done really well.
“They’ll be demanding a decent fee for him, probably between £17-20 million for him, so that makes a deal difficult to do in the January window, but maybe in the summer.”
Norton-Cuffy backed to turn down West Ham offer
While they are not the only club interested in the Genoa star as things stand, Everton may have received a boost in their pursuit ahead of their rivals.
Football Insider revealed on 23 January that Norton-Cuffy could turn down West Ham as he is unwilling to join a club who are fighting against relegation.
Instead, he is prepared to assess other options which would be viewed on an upgrade on his situation at Genoa, with the Toffees further up the pecking order.
Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider that Everton are interested in Norton-Cuffy and will make a decision before the end of the window.
The right-back enjoyed loan spells at Lincoln, Rotherham, Coventry and Millwall before opting to move to Italy, but could already be tempted back to the Premier League.
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