Everton not close to sealing Max Aarons transfer as rival suitors target Norwich City star

Add as preferred source on Google

According to Fabrizio Romano, Everton are not close to sealing the transfer of Max Aarons as rival suitors begin to join the race to sign Norwich City’s star right-back this summer.

Carlo Ancelotti is set to utilise the off-season market to identify his long-term successor for Seamus Coleman, but the Toffees have long felt that there are limited options currently available who fit the criteria set out by the Italian (Liverpool Echo).

Yet Aarons was one who was thought to appeal to the former Real Madrid head coach, as Everton believed the Canaries product has the ability to make a similar impression as seen from Ben Godfrey (The Times) following the centre-half’s move from Norwich in October.

Aarons was also keen to follow his former teammate in securing a move to Goodison Park, but faced difficulties in completing a switch with Everton reluctant to meet the Canaries’ demands of £30million and plans to work on negotiating a lower fee (The Times).

Those plans now appear to have been unsuccessful with Romano claiming that distance remains between Aarons becoming an Everton player and remaining at Norwich, who are likely to be subjected to alternative offers from rival suitors.

Romano recently suggested that Everton had begun to consider other right-backs in line with the rise in alternative destinations, while previously touting Manchester United as a potential suitor when distancing Bayern Munich following preliminary negotiations.

Aarons started 46 of his 47 appearances across all competitions this season under Daniel Farke, who considers the 21-year-old to be an ‘outstanding’ talent (Pink Un), while offering two goals and five assists.

TBR’s view:

With Everton reluctant to pay what Norwich are demanding for Aarons ahead of their return to the Premier League as winners of the Championship, the Merseyside outfit were always likely to face a challenge in obtaining the defender’s services in the summer window.

The Toffees now face a heightened challenge to secure Ancelotti one of his potentially preferred options to succeed Coleman with other clubs showing increased interest, and may need their Director of Football Marcel Brands to discover a viable alternative.

But Brands may struggle given Everton’s belief that there are limited options on the market, including Brighton & Hove Albion’s Tariq Lamptey as while liked, is considered too short for Ancelotti who would prefer a taller right-back and is also valued at £30m (Liverpool Echo).

Plans to sign Lucas Vazquez (Defensa Central) have also been derailed with the versatile Spanish dynamo, often used by Zinedine Zidane at full-back this season, poised to sign a new contract with Real Madrid after the La Liga giants presented him with improved terms (AS).