Everton enter race to hijack £35m deal for Aston Villa & Crystal Palace target after agreement reached
Everton are looking to bolster their options in the January transfer window as they look to remain in the race for Europe under David Moyes
Everton sit eighth in the Premier League heading into 2026 after ending 2025 with a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Tuesday night.
The Toffees have won eight of their 19 games, drawing four and losing seven. They sit on 28 points and just two points off Chelsea in fifth as they look to stay in the battle for a European spot come the end of the campaign.
Moyes has made it clear to the club owners that Everton are lacking in numbers. Four academy players were on the bench in the win over Forest while Jack Grealish also featuring from the bench despite Moyes claiming the player was ill.
“Honestly, we don’t have an awful lot [of options] to make changes. Jack is on the bench, but he shouldn’t be; he is still ill,” said Moyes before the win over Forest.
“We may have to use him, but if I had it my way, he wouldn’t be on the bench at all.”
One attacking player linked with Everton is Tottenham Hotspur star Brennan Johnson. Crystal Palace are leading the race for the Wales international who has also been linked with Aston Villa and Sunderland.
BBC Sport report that the Eagles have struck a £35m deal with Spurs for Johnson but the player himself has not decided on his future.
Hope remains for other clubs in the race with Fabrizio Romano providing a big update on the transfer.
Addressing Palace’s bid to sign Johnson on his YouTube channel, Romano explained: “Brennan Johnson has to decide whether he wants to go to Crystal Palace or wait for other opportunities.
“It is my understanding that Bournemouth are ready to pay the transfer fee, and there are also Sunderland and Everton calling in the last 24 hours. So now Brennan Johnson has to decide what he wants to do in terms of technical project, in terms of contract, in terms of city - he’s based in London, obviously.”