There was almost an inevitability about Everton being linked with a move for John Egan.
Reported this morning by The Mirror, it is claimed the Toffees want to sign the Irish defender. With new manager Carlo Ancelotti coming through the door, he will be keen to make some immediate signings.
Egan, therefore, makes perfect sense as a potential capture. The Toffees have struggled at the back this season. Yerry Mina and Michael Keane have looked indecisive at times. Meanwhile, Egan has marshalled a Blades a defence to seven clean sheets and fifth place in the Premier League.
With Sheffield United flying high, interest in players was always going to come. January is just around the corner, meaning clubs are looking to strengthen the ranks. And, given the Blades’ relatively low budget, clubs will target their stars.
However, when it comes to John Egan, it should, and probably will take a mountain of cash to move him.
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Standing our ground
Chris Wilder has already admitted there’s not a lot you can do in some circumstances with transfers. He’s spoken of the situation with David Brooks a few seasons back as an example.
But the Blades are now a Premier League club. No longer are we under pressure to sell at the first bid. Wilder and his board can weigh things up for the good of the club.
With that, we simply have to stand firm over Egan. Sure, a hefty sum would enable Wilder to strengthen. But who does he bring in? Nobody epitomises the Blades at the moment quite like John Egan.
Players will always move on. It’s football, and we, as fans, have to accept players will come and go. But now, more than ever, the club need to be standing firm.
Demand the world
According to Transfermarkt, the Toffees’ record signing is Gylfi Sigurdsson at over £40m. The likes of Richarlison and Alex Iwobi have also arrived for huge sums in recent times.
More prominently, when it comes to John Egan, Everton have paid in excess of £20m for both Yerry Mina and Michael Keane. If that’s the benchmark for central defenders, then you can double that for the Blades man.
Yes, it sounds absurd to say Egan is worth £50m. But a player’s valuation comes in how much worth he has to a team. In John Egan, Sheffield United arguably have a player who is irreplaceable.
Since signing for just £4m a few seasons back, he’s gone from strength to strength. Stand-in skipper behind Billy Sharp and Ollie Norwood, Egan is loved at Bramall Lane.
If Everton wants their man, then they need to put up or shut up when it comes to John Egan.