Club owner responds directly to news of Everton wanting to sign 'Outrageous' gem

Hull City owner Acun Illicali has responded directly to reports of interest from Everton in Jaden Philogene during the summer transfer window.

Reports have suggested Sean Dyche’s side are among a number of Premier League teams interested in signing the winger [Daily Mail, 28 June] who scored an “outrageous” rabona for the Tigers last season [Hull Daily Mail, 16 February].

Although the Toffees aren’t alone in the race for the 22-year-old’s signature this summer, Illicali has told talkSPORT’s Alex Crook that he wouldn’t stand in the way of Philogene if he wants to move away.

Speaking on talkSPORT on Tuesday (2 July, 12:46) Crook asked: “In order to be more successful, how important is it to keep hold of Jaden Philogene?

“We know about interest from Everton and West Ham as well, is it true that Barcelona would like to sign him?”

Illicali responded: “Yes, everything is true but if you ask me, I told our fans that I would sell nobody. My idea in football is not to make money, my idea in football is to make a strong and bigger club.

“To make a bigger club, sometimes if a player says I want to go, that’s a different case. For me, one player change is not the end of the world, but for any of my players, I never want to ruin their career or their mood by pushing them because of the contract that I have.

“In that case, if Jaden wants to move and he says he wants to go somewhere, this is not something that we can do too much because it is his life. I love all my boys, so I’m responsible for their career as well so they don’t need to play with us if they don’t want to play with us.”

Will Everton sign Hull City star Jaden Philogene in summer transfer window at Goodison Park?

While the news that Barcelona’s interest is genuine won’t be music to the ears of Everton supporters or the recruitment team, they will at least be happy to hear that there is a deal to be struck for Philogene this summer.

The 22-year-old winger is one of the Championship’s more exciting talents and he could add a different dimension to Dyche’s side this summer. His direct style and excellent dribbling ability are unlike any winger already at Goodison.

Hull may not want to sell the former Aston Villa man, but they do seem to understand that they could have to allow him to leave for the right offer. The question is whether or not Everton are the club to make that offer.

Hopefully, Kevin Thelwell and his team find the money to get this deal over the line as it would be a huge step in the right direction ahead of the start of the season. This could be one to watch now that Hull have all but said they’re open for offers.

In other Everton news, a PSR update has emerged at Goodison Park following the Premier League’s unofficial deadline day

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