In an effort to have stronger teams the next season, West Ham and Everton will both be keen to bolster their rosters.
The Hammers were eliminated from European participation after three seasons in continental action, and the Toffees fought relegation once more in the previous campaign.
Fabrizio
Romano has now offered a significant update on a “excellent” player who West Ham and Everton are both interested in signing this summer.
The player in question is Republic of Ireland defender Jake O’Brien, who helped Lyon survive relegation from Ligue 1 last season.
However, barring a dramatic late twist, it looks as though they’ve lost out to Everton in the race for O’Brien. Romano took to X with two consecutive updates on the Toffees’ pursuit of the Irishman. In the first, the transfer insider said Everton had agreed a deal in principle with Lyon for O’Brien
Just 11 minutes later, Romano reported that O’Brien is “also ready to accept the five-year contract” Everton have offered him. Medical tests are now being planned for either Sunday or Monday, and Romano then concluded by saying “here we go
Jake O’Brien is a 23-year-old defender who plays for French Ligue 1 side Lyon and represents the Republic of Ireland at international level. The 6ft 5in powerhouse came through the ranks at Irish side Cork City before joining Crystal Palace’s academy in 2021, and took in a number of loan spells while on their books. Last year, Lyon signed O’Brien for just €1million (£850,000) and, despite initially arriving as a prospect for the future, he quickly became a key player for Les Gones.
