Journalist delivers verdict on QPR star’s potential Everton move amid AFC Bournemouth, Lille and Monaco competition | OneFootball

Everton are likely to be looking to bring in a goalkeeper during the January transfer window or next summer, according to the view of journalist Pete O’Rourke who spoke to This is Futbol.

These comments come after Football Insider’s report earlier this month claiming that the Toffees are interested in bringing Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Seny Dieng to Goodison Park after seeing him impress in the English capital.

The Senegal international is currently one of the first names on the teamsheet under Mick Beale when available – and it could be argued that the West London outfit’s season started to fall apart last term when he was absent with David Marshall, Keiren Westwood and Murphy Mahoney all stepping in for him.

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Stefan Johansen

4 7 6 8

Proving to be an important player for the Championship side again this season – and even managing to grab an equaliser for his side against Sunderland back in August – it may come as no surprise to many that he’s been linked with a move once more with AFC Bournemouth and Monaco also reported to be interested in him.

Last year, he was tipped to succeed Aaron Ramsdale as Sheffield United’s number one shot-stopper but that move failed to materialise in the end.

However, journalist O’Rourke believes the Toffees will be on the prowl for a new stopper in the next couple of windows, potentially giving the 27-year-old the opportunity to make the switch to Merseyside.

He said: “He’s a top goalkeeper Dieng, he’s going to the World Cup with Senegal, probably as back-up to Edouard Mendy, but he’s proven himself in the Championship as a top goalkeeper.

“I think goalkeeper is an area of the team that Everton will be looking to strengthen, if not in January, then definitely in the summer.

“Asmir Begovic is out of contract in the summer, so they will definitely need some cover for Jordan Pickford.”

The Verdict:

Jordan Pickford has been exceptional for England despite his occasional errors at Goodison Park, so it would be difficult to see Dieng becoming first-choice shot-stopper for the long term unless there’s an injury.

However, Chelsea are taking a closer look at the England international ahead of January so that could enable Dieng to play regularly if both transfers end up materialising during the winter window.

You have to wonder whether another goalkeeper will be brought in if Pickford did depart though because Asmir Begovic is 35 and may be thinking about retiring at some point.

If he wants to continue playing though and is good enough to remain at the top level, then there’s every chance the QPR man could be first-choice keeper as a longer-term option for Frank Lampard, with Begovic acting as his understudy.

The Toffees haven’t been afraid to dip into the EFL market recently with their previous interest in Ben Brereton-Diaz and Dwight McNeil coming in from Burnley, so it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see this deal happen if they fork out enough money for him.