Defender’s new deal and loan move sparks busy day for Everton

With just one more day of the January transfer window to go Everton are continuing to make their presence felt in the transfer market as Ronald Koeman revamps his squad.

Two players left permanently, one departed on loan and another has been told he can leave as Koeman seeks to rid his squad of deadwood.

Young defender Tyias Browning kicked-off a busy day for the Blues when he signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract before immediately being loaned out to Preston until the end of the season.

The 22-year-old defender made his debut against Liverpool at Anfield in September 2014 and has gone onto make eight further appearances for the senior side.

However, the Liverpool-born youngster’s progress was halted by a serious knee injury in November 2015 that ruled him out for nearly a year.

Browning has been eased back into action since then and his progress rewarded with a new deal through to 2019.

A chance to play regular competitive football in the Championship until May will allow the defender to rediscover his match sharpness.

It is then hoped Browning can return in the summer and try and push for a first-team spot.

No sooner had that deal been confirmed news broke of a further two departures, with Darron Gibson and Bryan Oviedo joining David Moyes’ collection of former Toffees at Sunderland.

The combined fee for both players is £7.5m potentially rising to £9m (I imagine if Sunderland stay up).

Both players were honest pros and went with the fans’ good wishes.

Gibson made an impressive start to his Everton career but just couldn’t keep himself fit. Oviedo never gave less than 100% but also struggled to fully recover from his sickening leg break in early 2014.

He was a solid enough player but just not quite good enough to be a first-team regular.

He will always be fondly remembered for this though:

Another player who could be leaving Everton in the next 24 hours is Arouna Kone.

Ronald Koeman confirmed in his news conference that there has been offers for the former Wigan striker, who has made just six substitute appearances this season.

Koeman said:

“It is possible he will leave.

“I don’t know (if it will be before the window), he is training and doing well but he likes to play...we have used other player than Arouna.

“I have had some offers for him.”

Phil Jagielka will not be leaving the club this deadline day however. The Toffees skipper has been linked with a move away after slipping out of the first-team picture in recent weeks.

The 34-year-old hasn’t started a game since the turn of the year and Koeman revealed earlier this month the defender wasn’t happy with the situation.

Sunderland, rather inevitably, were linked with a move for the former Sheffield Utd man before Tuesday’s deadline.

However, with moves for Michael Keane and Virgil van Dijk coming to nothing it appears Jagielka is staying at Goodison - for now.

Meanwhile Everton have had an offer rejected by Sheffield United for young goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

The 18-year-old, has been capped by England at U18 and U19 level, has yet to make a league appearance for the Blades but did feature against Leyton Orient in the FA Cup last November.

It appears Everton remain keen on the teenager and may well return with an improved bid before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.