Everton receive major January transfer blow amid 'big favourites' claim after Aston Villa exit deal agreed

David Moyes will be looking to add to his Everton squad this January as his players have been pushed to the limit with injury and suspension issues in recent weeks.

The Toffees rose back into the top half of the Premier League table on Sunday with a 1-0 victory away at Aston Villa but have had to battle the odds in order to do this, with manager Moyes expressing that he would like to add to his squad if possible this month.

The January transfer window is a notoriously challenging one but Everton have found themselves linked with a series of prospective targets from around the continent, with attacking areas and the right-back position appearing to be particular areas of focus in the market. A stunning move to bring former fans’ favourite Romelu Lukaku back to the club has even been touted.

An update has emerged around the future of another Toffees transfer target and it may ultimately be their opponents last weekend who could stand in the way of a deal being done.

Everton set to miss out on Tammy Abraham amid ‘big favourites’ claim

Everton have seen links with Tammy Abraham this month as the possibility of the former Chelsea striker returning to the Premier League has emerged. The 28-year-old is currently on loan at Besiktas but negotiations with parent club Roma have suggested that a deal could be done for a permanent switch back to England, in a deal which could cost as little as £11million.

Latest reports by Football Insider state that Aston Villa are ‘well placed’ to beat Everton to a move for Abraham, amidst the belief that they are ‘big favourites’ to seal a deal for the striker. He was once on loan at Villa Park during their Championship promotion-winning campaign in 2018/19 and could arrive to provide support to Ollie Watkins up front.

Villa are ‘desperate’ to seal a deal for Abraham reveals the report, after a deal was agreed for Donyell Malen to be sold to Roma in a loan-to-buy deal. This earlier negotiation between the two clubs could also give Unai Emery’s side the upper hand in a move for Abraham, over rival suitors Everton and Nottingham Forest.

Reporting continues that Abraham ‘wants’ the move to Villa Park as his former club chase a Champions League place this season. Any potential suitor will need to find a way to break his loan agreement with Besiktas in order to secure a transfer, though the Turkish club appear to be willing to co-operate.

‘I’m surprised’ - Ex-Everton chief speaks on Abraham move

Former Everton and Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness has expressed surprise at the low price for which Abraham is set to be available in this window, claiming that the former England international would be a success back in the Premier League.

Wyness said: “I think Abraham’s a very talented player, very hard to mark, very hard to handle. He’s a handful. He’s a mixture between, I always thought, between Lukaku and Peter Crouch in a funny way. And he is definitely a handful.

“And I’m surprised at the price he’s going for right now. I think it could be something that Villa could look at. But I think because of his past experience at Villa, and I know he enjoyed his time there, and I think Emery would be an excellent manager for him.”

Everton appear to have the back foot in the race for Abraham at present but alternative targets may emerge in the coming days as the Toffees look to add another forward option to offer extra support to Thierno Barry and Beto in attack.