EXCLUSIVE: Everton target Josh Brownhill as 777 takeover process forces Sean Dyche to loan market

Jacque Talbot

• 22 Dec 2023 06:00 CST
• 3 min read

Exclusive

Everton are targeting Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill whose contract is up in the summer, FootballTransfers is told.

The Merseyside club will go into the January transfer window in relatively good spirits. Sean Dyche has been something of a miracle worker, pushing the club to mid-table despite the ongoing furore in the background, whether that be the Premier League deducting an unprecedented amount of points or the constant media scrutiny around the potential new owners of the club.

Everton are going to have to look to the loan market to bring in fresh faces in the winter window, FootballTransfers has been told. Dyche remains an admirer of Brownhill of Burnley, with the central midfielder position being the priority.

The 28-year-old's contract is up in 2024, meaning that he could sign a pre-contract agreement ahead of the summer, or the Clarets may look to sell.

As was the case during the summer, Everton still want a winger to bring in. Space could be freed up with Arnaut Danjuma in talks with his former side Villarreal about a return there. The club are expecting no other significant outgoings and it’s understood that any development of the 777 takeover will have a factor in how much is available.

When will 777 take over Everton?

The prospective buyers are currently awaiting approval from the Premier League to complete the takeover of the Toffees, having reached an agreement with owner Farhad Moshiri in September. However, a setback has occurred for the US investment group as one of their prominent UK partners, the sports marketing firm Redstrike, has decided to end their joint venture established just last year.

The Premier League are still in the process of examining the origin and adequacy of the funds involved and we are told that there is no timeframe in which the deal will be completed, though the ambition is for it to be done as soon as possible.