Report: Everton actually made £8m bid to sign right-back Antonio Conte loves just before the deadline

Everton made a deadline day signing in the form of Armando Broja – but the Toffees could have been welcoming a second player to Goodison Park late in the transfer window.

The Albania international has arrived on loan from Chelsea for the 2024/25 campaign, joining Iliman Ndiaye, Jesper Lindstrom, Jake O’Brien, Tim Iroegbunam, Asmir Begovic and Orel Mangala in moving to Merseyside, but Kevin Thelwell – Director of Football for Everton – made another move, albeit an unsuccessful one.

So, who was the subject of a late bid from Everton? Let’s take a look…

Everton made offer to sign Jackson Tchatchoua

A story from Calcio Napoli 24 now states that Everton made a €10m (£8m) bid to sign Jackson Tchatchoua from Hellas Verona before last Friday’s 11pm transfer deadline.

The Italian news outlet write about the Cameroon international as a result of his excellent performance in Hellas Verona’s 3-0 win over Napoli on Sunday 18th August, stating that Antonio Conte was blown away by the right-back, and wanted to sign him immediately after this game.

Then, Calcio Napoli 24 mention that Everton offered £8m for Tchatchoua – but it was all a bit too late for the Toffees, as a deal failed to progress.

The 22-year-old has since continued to shine in Serie A, scoring his first goal of the season in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Genoa as Hellas Verona sit fifth in Italy’s top-flight.

Toffees may not get another chance to sign the Cameroonian

If Tchatchoua maintains this level of performance between now and January, he could end up pricing Everton out of a move.

The Hellas Verona No.38 still has three years left on his contract, so the Italian side have no urgent need to sell, and they are on track to at least double the defender’s asking price if he keeps playing this well.

Furthermore, if Everton still find themselves rooted to the bottom of the Premier League by the next transfer window, Goodison Park will not look like a very attractive destination for Tchatchoua.

Hopefully, a deal can be resurrected in January, as Everton are in desperate need of a new right-back.