In a recent report, The Athletic offered an update on Everton and their pursuit of Olympique Lyonnais defender Jake O’Brien this summer. It has been stated that the Toffees would have to pay £17m to acquire the services of the Irish centre-back in this transfer window.
O’Brien’s Decent Run Of Form In French Football Last Season
O’Brien had an impressive campaign at Lyon as he was responsible for putting in a string of solid displays at the heart of their defence. The 23-year-old was involved in 32 matches for the French side last season, scoring five goals and picking up a couple of assists across multiple competitions.
The Cork-born talent was a dominant figure when defending inside his half based on his average of 0.8 tackles, 0.4 interceptions and 3.6 clearances per game in Ligue 1. He has even been tidy when distributing possession from the back after making 88.3% of his attempted passes in the French first division (stats via whoscored).
His current deal at the French club will expire in the summer of 2027 which could make it tough for the Toffees to sign him on a cut-price deal later this year.
Should Everton Boss Sean Dyche Snap O’Brien Up This Summer?
O’Brien is a solid tackler of the ball and can scan the danger well to make the odd interception for his side on the defensive end of the field. He usually clears his lines when needed and can even play his way out from the back.
The Irish talent can even use his towering 1.97m frame to win a few important 50-50 aerial duels for his team. However, he is still unproven at the highest level and would need time to settle into life in English football.
We can expect O’Brien to bring more quality and depth to Everton boss Sean Dyche’s backline. He has what it takes to serve as a good, rotational piece in the Merseyside club‘s squad next season.
At 23, O’Brien has his best years ahead of him which makes him a decent choice for the Toffees to consider this summer. All in all, Dyche should focus on going all out to snap him up before the end of this transfer period.
