It’s safe to say it’s been a turbulent week at Everton.
On Thursday, just hours before their FA Cup match against Peterborough United, it was announced that Sean Dyche had been dismissed. This left Leighton Baines and club captain Séamus Coleman in caretaker charge, overseeing a routine 2-0 win.
Remarkably, this marks the first time in 30 years that a Premier League club has sacked their manager on matchday, before kickoff.
Then, on Saturday morning, it was confirmed that David Moyes had returned to the club, 13 years after his departure to Manchester United. During his first stint at Everton, Moyes managed 518 games.
With the Toffees sitting 16th in the Premier League, just one point above the relegation zone, reinforcements are urgently needed. Could the first signing of the Moyes-era be on the horizon?
Everton are reportedly in talks with Olympique Lyonnais over a deal for Ernest Nuamah, according to TEAMtalk. French sources on social media suggest the deal is “one step away,” with an agreement nearly in place.
Nuamah joined Lyon from Danish side Nordsjælland for €30 million in 2023, so Everton are unlikely to get him cheaply. However, as noted by Colin Millar, Matt Slater, and Matt Woosnam from The Athletic, Lyon has been provisionally relegated from Ligue 1 due to financial issues and must improve their financial situation by season’s end, making Nuamah potentially expendable. That said, no Everton fan should consider this a done deal until it’s official.
In the summer, Nuamah was on the verge of joining Fulham, only to abruptly end his medical, tearfully declaring his loyalty to Lyon and refusing the move, which led to an apology letter being sent to Fulham by Lyon’s owner. Everton will be hoping for a smoother transaction this time.
How does Ernest Nuamah compare to Dwight McNeil?
Ghanaian commentator George Addo Jnr describes Nuamah as “some talent,” with journalist Owuraku Ampofo calling him “a fantastic dribbler.” Wesley Mak from Opta’s The Analyst labels him a “multi-functional forward” who can play across the front three, comparing him to West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus, another Ghanaian who came through the Right to Dream Academy.
Given that Everton are the second-lowest scorers in the Premier League this season and bottom for expected goals, the team desperately needs attacking reinforcements. So, how does Nuamah compare to the Toffees’ joint-top scorer, Dwight McNeil?
McNeil is more of a creator, with significantly more assists and expected assists, and last season, only eight players across Europe’s top five leagues made more crosses than his 229—a hallmark of Dyche’s style. In contrast, Nuamah is more of a dribbler, with more take-ons and progressive carries. He’s also a greater goal threat, having scored 15 goals in his final season at Nordsjælland and netting against top-tier sides like Paris Saint-Germain and Eintracht Frankfurt since joining Lyon.
With Everton failing to score in eight of their last ten Premier League matches and struggling to find the net in 39% of Dyche’s league games, Nuamah would undoubtedly be a welcome addition for Everton fans.
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