Everton's target is clear: Rico Lewis

Everton's search for a right-back has begun to take a clearer shape. According to the report, the club have stepped up their interest in Manchester City's 21-year-old defender Rico Lewis. Head coach David Moyes is said to be a big admirer of the player's versatility — his ability to play right-back, left-back and midfield — while Manchester City are reported to be open to a sale for the right price, with a fee in the region of £30 million expected to be enough.

The player's recent spell at City explains this interest. An academy graduate under contract until 2030, Lewis fell behind Matheus Nunes under Pep Guardiola last season, starting just three Premier League matches; this led both to him losing his place in Thomas Tuchel's England setup and to the strengthening prospect of a departure.

The picture inside the club has also shifted. New head coach Enzo Maresca, who took over following Guardiola's departure from City, is reported to have given the green light to the player's search for regular football — with a sale of an academy product also appealing to the club given it would register as near-pure profit on the books.

Everton are not alone. Nottingham Forest are reported to have had a package worth around £26 million rejected by City, with Fulham, Bournemouth and Newcastle also in the race. With Seamus Coleman having departed and Nathan Patterson also expected to leave, Everton's need at right-back is pressing; Jake O'Brien's long spell out of position has only accelerated the search. Premier League rules prohibiting the loan of two players from the same club — relevant given City's desire to loan Jack Grealish to Everton for a second spell — mean any Lewis deal would need to be permanent.

Source: TeamTalk
Image: Yahoo Sports