Great clubs are not simply measured by trophies or league positions, but by the conviction behind their decisions. Institutions built on tradition understand that progress is not only about who you sign, but who you refuse to lose. Every generation of supporters has watched heroes emerge from unlikely moments, and they know that sometimes the boldest move a club can make is standing its ground.
At places where history weighs heavy and loyalty runs deep, value is not dictated solely by transfer markets or outside interest. It is shaped by timing, importance, and belief in what a player can still become. When a young footballer grows into responsibility under pressure, he becomes more than a squad option — he becomes part of the club’s immediate future.
That is why Everton’s stance over Tim Iroegbunam has shifted from quiet consideration to firm resistance.
Despite growing interest from abroad, Everton will only consider selling the 22-year-old midfielder if an offer reaches a commanding £30 million — double the figure currently being discussed. Lazio’s approach, believed to be worth up to £15 million, falls well short of the valuation now placed on a player David Moyes views as increasingly vital.
Iroegbunam has evolved from squad depth into a dependable presence during a demanding period for the Blues. Injuries and absences forced Moyes to lean on the former Aston Villa man, and he responded with a run of performances that showcased composure, discipline, and tactical intelligence beyond his years.
“You don’t put a discount price on reliability in the middle of the season,” a source close to the club said. “If someone wants him now, they have to pay a premium that reflects his importance — not just his potential.”
That importance has only grown in recent weeks. Starting five of Everton’s last six league matches, Iroegbunam has offered balance and control at a time when the squad was stretched. His development has not gone unnoticed internally, where staff believe he is only beginning to show the level he can reach.
While Idrissa Gana Gueye has returned and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is edging closer to fitness, Moyes is understood to value competition and depth rather than viewing returning players as replacements. The manager’s preference is to build layers of strength, not shuffle pieces and hope the structure holds.
“Managers trust players who step up when things are difficult,” an insider revealed. “That kind of trust isn’t easily replaced in January.”
Everton’s hierarchy also recognise the wider message a cut-price sale would send. Letting a young, improving midfielder leave mid-season for a modest fee could be interpreted as short-term thinking — something the club are determined to move away from as they aim to stabilise both performances and long-term planning.
Setting a £30 million valuation is not merely a negotiating tactic; it is a declaration. It signals that Everton see Iroegbunam as an asset whose peak years lie ahead, not a stopgap to be moved on at the first serious approach.
Supporters, long protective of emerging talent, are likely to welcome the firm stance. They have watched too many promising players flourish elsewhere after being sold before their true value was realised. This time, the club appear determined not to repeat that pattern.
Meanwhile, Everton continue to explore reinforcements of their own, including strong interest in right-back Brooke Norton-Cuffy. But any incoming business will not come at the cost of weakening a midfield that has only recently regained stability.
“There’s a difference between selling to survive and selling to succeed,” a senior football figure noted. “Everton are trying to show they know which side of that line they want to be on.”
With the window closing and pressure mounting, the message from Merseyside is clear: Tim Iroegbunam is not for sale — unless a bid arrives that is simply too powerful to ignore.
And that number now stands at £30 million.
Everton FC are mad if they sell Tim , rather sell BETO geuye, ,TIM is a young player 22, year old he can ONLY get BETTER with our players around him David Moyes needs to keep don’t sell him please