Everton to face rapid Brighton star after Dominic Calvert-Lewin exchange deal collapsed last year

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Everton host Brighton and Hove Albion this weekend, as David Moyes looks for a first Premier League win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Toffees were beaten 1-0 at Leeds United on Monday night, falling to a late defeat thanks to Lukas Nmecha’s contentious penalty.

Everton were flat at Elland Road, managing just one shot on target against the newly-promoted Whites.

This weekend will bring a piece of history, as Everton play the first Premier League game at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium.

David Moyes would love to pick up a first win of the season in Everton’s new home, but his Toffees squad is far from the finished article.

Jack Grealish made his Everton debut off the bench against Leeds, but more quality in the final third is still required.

• READ MORE: Brighton and Hove Albion boss shares verdict on ‘unbelievable’ Jack Grealish ahead of Everton clash

Everton missed out on Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh

Everton are looking to land a right-sided winger, with Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo on the Toffees’ radar.

Carlos Alcaraz started in that position against Leeds, but doesn’t exactly look comfortable in that role, while Dwight McNeil was curiously left as an unused substitute.

This has been a problem position at Everton for a while, and the Toffees believed Yankuba Minteh could solve that issue last summer.

Minteh excelled on loan at Feyenoord in the 2023-24 season, racking up 11 goals and five assists under Arne Slot.

The 21-year-old returned to Newcastle with his future in doubt as the Magpies looked to make sales to comply with PSR.

Everton discussed signing Minteh in a quasi-swap deal involving Dominic Calvert-Lewin signing for Newcastle.

That deal collapsed, paving the way for Minteh to join Brighton – this weekend’s opponents.

What stings even more is that Calvert-Lewin has now left Everton on a free transfer, so the Toffees not only missed out on a serious talent in Minteh but also missed out on great value with Calvert-Lewin.

Minteh has shown flashes of his quality while notching seven goals and five assists for the Seagulls.

Brighton will back Minteh to show even more over the coming years, and leave Everton to rue missing out on the Gambian wide man.

• READ MORE: Jack Grealish sends message to Everton fans, he’s already very excited for Brighton clash

Everton face a battle against Yankuba Minteh amid left-back woes

Minteh will now play at the Hill Dickinson Stadium this weekend, and he may be licking his lips against this Everton side.

Brighton will almost certainly deploy Minteh as a right-sided winger, and Everton are having major problems at left-back.

Vitaliy Mykolenko missed out against Leeds through injury on Monday, while summer signing Adam Aznou was also missing.

Moyes was therefore forced to play James Garner at left-back, with the midfielder playing out of position to help the team.

Minteh’s sheer speed could be a real problem for Garner if he has to play in that position again, and Fabian Hurzeler may target this as an area of weakness in the Everton back line.

Moyes will hope for positive news on Mykolenko and Aznou in the coming days, with a natural left-back potentially needed to cope with former Toffees target Minteh this weekend.