Report: Everton plot bold swoop for Sunderland duo | OneFootball

Everton Target Sunderland Pair as Moyes Eyes Youth and Familiarity

Moyes Turns to Championship for Reinforcements

David Moyes may be returning to familiar waters. As Everton brace themselves for another turbulent summer, the former Sunderland and West Ham boss appears ready to tap into the Championship – a strategy that has served him well in the past. According to a report from TEAMtalk, Everton are seriously monitoring Sunderland duo Chris Rigg and Dan Neil ahead of the summer window.

Rigg, just 17, has emerged as one of the standout young talents in the second tier this season, playing 34 games and contributing four goals and an assist. His versatility across midfield and the right flank, along with his composure beyond his years, has sparked interest from several Premier League clubs – including Manchester United and West Ham.

Photo IMAGO

Neil, meanwhile, is further along in his development. At 23, the Sunderland captain has led by example this campaign, missing just one league game while chipping in with three goals and two assists. A more defensive-minded presence, Neil brings a balance that could appeal to Moyes as he looks to re-energise an Everton engine room in transition.

Photo: IMAGO

Suitors Circle, But Sunderland Hold the Cards

Everton’s interest in the Black Cats pair is said to be “genuine”, with TEAMtalk confirming that both midfielders are firmly on their shortlist. But whether a deal materialises is another matter entirely.

The first stumbling block is competition. As well as Everton and West Ham, Manchester United have joined the list of admirers for Rigg, who is under contract until 2027. That puts Sunderland in a strong position to demand a significant fee – reports suggest a valuation of around £30 million, which would be a substantial outlay for a teenager, even one of Rigg’s promise.

Dan Neil, with a contract running until 2026, is reportedly valued at around £15 million, and while talks over a renewal have stalled, Sunderland are unlikely to entertain any approaches until their season concludes. Promotion could change everything. With the Black Cats currently in fourth place and poised for a play-off push, a return to the top flight would dramatically alter the landscape. Both players may be more inclined to stay, and Sunderland’s negotiating power would strengthen.

Photo IMAGO

“In terms of the contract stuff, my only goal is to get us promoted this season,” Neil told the Sunderland Echo in December.“That’s everyone’s goal this season and we just need to keep plugging away. All that [contract talk etc] is background noise, I’m here and all I’m interested in is those automatic places and getting us promoted back to the Premier League.”

Everton’s Midfield in Flux

Everton’s interest in the duo also makes sense when you consider their current midfield situation. Orel Mangala’s ACL injury has likely ruled him out of a permanent deal. Abdoulaye Doucoure, a vital presence in recent years, is nearing the end of his contract, with no agreement yet on reduced terms. Similarly, Idrissa Gana Gueye is set to become a free agent, though the club are in discussions to retain him for another season.

Photo IMAGO

In short, Moyes is staring down the barrel of a midfield overhaul. Rigg and Neil fit a profile – youthful, tenacious, and tactically flexible. And Moyes, never afraid to dip into the Championship, may see echoes of Tim Cahill or Jarrod Bowen in their games – players he famously signed from lower divisions and moulded into top-flight stalwarts.

Friedkin Group Ready to Back Moyes

The presence of the Friedkin Group – Everton’s incoming owners – adds another layer of intrigue. Sources close to the club suggest they are willing to support Moyes with funds in the summer. But with Everton also needing to resolve the futures of five loanees and eight out-of-contract players, priorities must be carefully balanced.

Photo IMAGO

And if Rigg’s fee really is in the £30m range, Everton will have to weigh whether a teenage prodigy with no Premier League minutes justifies such an investment – particularly in a summer where several first-team areas require attention.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

Let’s take a breath. This isn’t the first time Everton fans have been sold a dream in March, only for it to unravel by July. Two promising midfielders from Sunderland? Sure, they’ve got talent – Rigg especially – but are they what Everton need right now?

First, £30 million for a 17-year-old is lunacy for a club under constant financial scrutiny. Yes, the Friedkin Group might back Moyes, but we’ve heard that song before with previous ownerships. And what if Sunderland get promoted? they could be held to ransom, and these players might choose to stay and fight with their boyhood club instead of jumping ship to a side flirting with relegation every year.

As for Dan Neil – good player, no doubt. But let’s not pretend we haven’t seen countless midfielders look good in the Championship and struggle to replicate it in the Premier League. Tom Davies once looked like a world-beater in blue. Where is he now?

This feels like Moyes reverting to type: Championship bargains, players he’s comfortable with, and a hope that one or two of them come good. It’s nostalgic, but nostalgia doesn’t keep you in the Premier League. Everton need Premier League-proven talent, leaders, players who won’t wilt when the pressure mounts. This sounds more like a long shot than a solid strategy.