According to reports from France, Everton could attack newly promoted Burnley in the coming weeks to recruit Maxime Esteve, with David Moyes wanting to reinforce one of the Premier League’s strongest backlines.
The Toffees had the division’s joint-fourth strongest defensive this season, with only Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea conceding fewer goals – and if the goals conceded count had started in mid-September, the Toffees would have the league’s hardest defence. However, Moyes is clearly dissatisfied with his current situation and is preparing to make a move for the in-demand Frenchman following his record-breaking season of clean sheets.
Report: Everton ‘Pressing’ for Maxime Esteve Signing
After a successful season, the Toffees have set their sights on the Clarets’ player.
According to L’Equipe, despite Burnley’s recent promotion from the Championship, Esteve could still leave in the summer transfer window if the Clarets receive a high-enough bid for his services, with Everton showing a strong interest in the former Montpellier man, who manager Scott Parker has dubbed ‘unbelievable’.
| Maxime Esteve’s Championship statistics – Burnley squad ranking | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stats | Output | Squad rank |
| Appearances | 46 | 1st |
| Average Passes Per Game | 66.8 | 2nd |
| Aerials Won Per Game | 2 | =1st |
| Clearances Per Game | 5 | 1st |
| Blocks Per Game | 0.9 | 2nd |
| Match rating | 7.01 | 4th |
Esteve is under contract at Turf Moor until 2029, so it will take a significant bid to get him away from Parker’s club. With only 16 goals surrendered in his 46-game Championship campaign last season, Esteve’s stock is at an all-time high, and the Toffees may aim to splash the cash before a projected £30 million price tag increases even further.
The Toffees are reported to have been’very aggressive’ in their efforts to sign Esteve in recent days, with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich also expressing interest, and former Burnley manager Vincent Kompany now in charge at the Allianz Arena.
Esteve scored one goal last season and kept the most clean sheets of any player in the league, with an amazing 30 – and after being selected to the Championship Team of the Season, he’d be a valuable asset in the top flight, where he’s already made 16 appearances.
For the Toffees, it’s another move that will lower the average age of their squad and position them for the future. Esteve would join Jarrad Branthwaite and Jake O’Brien at the back, who are both 22 and 24, as well as another former Burnley player in James Tarkowski, giving Moyes a great foursome to work with.
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