Everton FC are going to be playing Premier League football next season and will have to use the summer transfer window to build a squad that can compete at the top level. Sean Dyche can look at what one of his predecessors, Marco Silva, did in previous seasons, when the Toffees showed flashes of brilliance. The Portuguese head coach helped the club to finish in decent positions, and the players he had at his disposal played a key role in that. Stars like Richarlison, André Gomes, and Gylfi Sigurðsson may have stolen the headlines, but Tom Davies went under the radar with his consistent performances in midfield.
Everton make first offer for midfield target
Everton are active in the current summer transfer window to bolster their squad and are reportedly eyeing up a deal for a star who could be Dyche’s own version of Tom Davies. According to L’Equipe, the Toffees have submitted their first offer, worth around £22m, to Strasbourg in an attempt to sign central midfielder Habib Diarra.
Why Diarra could be a great signing for Everton
If Everton can get a deal over the line for Diarra, then Dyche could have a valuable player in his midfield. Diarra is a well-rounded midfield star who can impact games in and out of possession. The 21-year-old talent played regularly in Ligue 1 for Strasbourg in the 2024/25 campaign and caught the eye with his displays in the middle of the park. Diarra’s ability to combine defensive work with his attacking output suggests that he could be a very valuable player for the Toffees in the Premier League.
Stats comparison
Here’s a comparison of Diarra’s stats in Ligue 1 this season with Tom Davies’ stats in the Premier League:
| STATS | DIARRA (24/25 LIGUE 1) | DAVIES (various Premier League seasons) |
| — | — | — |
| Appearances | 30 | 30 |
| Goals | 4 | 2 |
| Big chances created | 9 | 5 |
| Assists | 5 | 3 |
| Dribbled past per game | 0.4x | 1.1x |
| Tackles + interceptions per game | 1.1 | 1.3 |
| Duels won per game | 3.3 | 2.5 |
These statistics show that Diarra could emulate Tom Davies’ impact at the top end of the pitch by delivering a respectable number of goals and assists from a box-to-box midfield position, whilst potentially being even more creative when you look at the ‘big chances’ that he created. Diarra’s ability to impact games at both ends of the pitch makes him an attractive signing for Everton FC.
