Marcel Brands is wise to continue eyeing a move for Everton to sign Brighton & Hove Albion right-back Tariq Lamptey despite the defender signing a new contract.
What’s the word?
According to The Athletic, the Toffees are one of a clutch of Premier League and European sides to still have aspirations of signing Lamptey.
Brighton announced on Sunday that the 20-year-old had penned a new deal, believed to be a four-and-a-half-year contract worth £40,000-per-week, to end any speculation of a winter exit.
But Lamptey’s list of suitors, which includes Everton, Arsenal, Manchester City and Bayern Munich, are not seen to be intimidated by the renewal, having been well aware of the negotiations.
No bids to sign the £16m-rated beast, who Seagulls boss Graham Potter lauds as a “unique” player, are thought to have been made yet, though Brighton’s asking price is expected to have remained similar to the fee requested before he put pen to paper to improved terms.
Brighton are not expected to stand in Lamptey’s way should they receive an offer that meets or exceeds their asking price, just 12-months on from the London-born full-back moving to the Amex Stadium from academy side Chelsea.
Lamptey has been a regular on the south coast for Potter since his £4m arrival a year ago, making 19 appearances in all competitions, but has not featured since December due to a hamstring injury.
Is Lamptey one Everton should watch?
Reports that Everton are continuing to eye Lamptey for a future move to Goodison Park should be well received by the Toffees fanbase, as the Brighton full-back is proving to be an exciting up-and-coming option in the position.
Carlo Ancelotti is thought to be on the lookout for his next permanent selection at right-back with Seamus Coleman nearing the final year of his current contract, with reports the Italian has considered moves to sign Norwich City’s Max Aarons and LOSC Lille’s Zeki Celik.
Lamptey made an instant impact at Brighton following his transfer from Chelsea last year, providing an assist at home to Liverpool to offer Potter’s side a route back into the game. He has since followed that up with three assists in the first three games of the 2020/21 Premier League season and scored his first Albion goal in a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham in November.
His efforts at the Amex have left Potter mightily impressed, as Lamptey’s attributes and physical presence offers Brighton a clear vision for how they can attack matches.
“There is not another Tariq, that’s for sure,” the Seagulls boss said following Lamptey’s hamstring injury, via quotes by FourFourTwo. “Whoever we replace him with, it is a different dynamic. That’s not to say you can’t function without Tariq because you can.
“But it certainly provides a bit of clarity from how we are attacking, and he gives you physicality and speed in the wide areas, which keeps the opposition on their toes in that particular area of the pitch.”
Coleman made a name for himself at Goodison Park for the way he brought an attacking threat from right-back over the last decade, and became someone considered to be the best in his position across the Premier League.
Lamptey would likely cost far more than the mere £60,000 Everton spent on Coleman, but he may be the one to replace the Republic of Ireland ace.
AND in other news, Everton must end the 14-year club association of a player completely frozen out by Carlo Ancelotti.