Confirmed: Everton switch transfer focus to specific market, recruitment staff appointed

Everton have re-appointed scount Ole Nielsen as they want to focus more on the Scandinavian market, he has confirmed.

The Dane told Tipsbladet on 23 October that he is now working for the Toffees again on top of his full-time role as a scout for SK Brann in Norway, insisting there is no conflict of interest due to the different resources behind the two clubs.

Everton brought in Danish international Jesper Lindstrom on loan from Napoli in the summer but head of recruitment Dan Purdy saw Neilsen as the right man to go to as the club eyes the chance to recruit Scandinavian talent from source.

Neilsen said: “Since I stopped in 2018, I have kept in touch with Dan Purdy, who is now Head of Recruitment. In the world of football, it’s all about networking. We have kept in touch and had a good cooperation when I was there the first time. I have helped them occasionally when he has asked about some players quite informally, and then he has helped me with some contacts at other clubs.

“An opportunity arose where they want a little more focus on Scandinavia, and he [Purdy] thought I was the right one for it.

“There are good examples of players from Scandinavia who have come to the Premier League either directly or via other leagues. Yankuba Minteh and Kamaldeen Sulemana are examples of players who come from Scandinavian clubs.”

Everton appoint Ole Nielsen for Scandinavian focus

Wherever talent is available at good value the Toffees should be looking to explore and with Dan Friedkin set to take over the club from Farhad Moshiri the incoming recruitment should start to return to something of a normal footing.

There isn’t thought to be a huge amount of room to spend in the January window from a PSR perspective [Kieran Maguire, 26 September] but it has been speculated that the Roma owner has dashed back to the table specifically in order to do business in the winter [Matt Slater, 27 September].

A major signing has also been predicted after the takeover is done, spending rules permitting [Kieran Maguire, 22 October], as the Americans look to make a splash on Merseyside.

But in turning to Neilsen to identify emerging talents in Scandinavia it looks like a move geared much more to the future and uncovering a next generation of potential stars.

Lindstrom’s start to life at Goodison Park has been slow as injury has helped hold him to just six appearances, only four of which have come in the Premier League.

But he is nearing a return to fitness and will look to kick on from there with the form under Sean Dyche suddenly much more positive.

Minteh might have ended up joining him as an Everton player this summer as the now-Brighton man was involved in swap talks with Newcastle that could have seen Dominic Calvert-Lewin head to St. James’ Park [talkSPORT, 22 June].

That deal collapsed and the striker is now back in discussions with the club over extending his contract [TEAMtalk, 13 October], with the incoming takeover likely a key factor in his change of heart.

In other Everton news, a “big reveal” for the new stadium sponsor is on the cards as Kieran Maguire issues a “fantastic” verdict.

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