LATEST NEWS: Everton In Battle With Aston Vila Over £16million Young Star Price

With a summer already laden with transfer activity, Everton could be forgiven for taking their foot off the gas a little.

However, Kevin Thelwell is showing no signs of making such a move, instead doubling down and throwing the Toffees headfirst into another transfer battle.

Everton insiders have insisted the club had a deal in place for Hull winger Jaden Philogene before Aston Villa triggered a clause in his contract, according to the Liverpool Echo.

The newspaper reported via its website [10 July] that the Toffees believe the player is keen on a move to Goodison Park despite Alan Myers suggesting [9 July] that Ipswich was his favoured destination.

It is understood that Villa now have a three-day window to match any bid made for the winger, with the Evertonians making a £16million offer to the Tigers on Tuesday [Paul Joyce].

The final decision, if Villa are to make a bid, will be down to the player and having left Villa Park less than 10 months ago, sources close to the club have questioned why he would choose to return so soon.

Everton still in race to sign Jaden Philogene despite Aston Villa twist

Without the three-day window for Villa, this could be a transfer saga that drags on until the end of the transfer window. However, the player has been left with a very simple decision.

Does he want to return to Villa Park already? Given he left the club only a matter of months ago in search of more game time, it seems foolish to think everything would have changed.

While Philogene was one of Hull’s most important players last term, notching 12 goals and six assists in the Championship, Unai Emery’s squad is stacked to the rafters with talented wide players.

The 22-year-old needs somewhere he can continue to develop, though his sensational season in the second tier has caught the attention of several clubs.

Sean Dyche has always had a problem with the winger positions at Goodison Park, with a lack of depth often troubling him. But with the re-signing of Jack Harrison on loan from Leeds United, the Toffees finally look to be strengthening the squad.

Philogene would be much likelier to gain valuable game time on Merseyside than if he were to return to Villa Park, but he may feel he has a point to prove this summer.

In other Everton news, the Toffees have learned Wilfried Ndidi’s wage demands as a transfer development emerges.

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