Everton latest: Toffees interested in Man Utd youngster Wheatley

Everton are closing in on a deal for Christian Norgaard from Arsenal, and reports suggest the Toffees are now tracking Manchester United’s 19-year-old striker Omari Wheatley. The pursuit of Wheatley comes as Frank Lampard’s side look to bolster their attacking options, with the transfer window now open and Everton already deep in negotiations for the Danish midfielder. The interest in Wheatley highlights a broader strategy under Lampard to blend experience with youth, particularly in attack.

Why Wheatley fits Everton’s evolving plan

Wheatley has featured intermittently for Manchester United’s first team this season, making his Premier League debut in December. His physical profile—a 6ft 3in striker with an ability to hold up play—aligns with Lampard’s preference for a target man in a fluid front three. While Wheatley has yet to start a league game for United, his cameo appearances have shown glimpses of composure in tight spaces, a trait Everton may value as they seek consistency in attack.

Everton’s interest arrives as Lampard has already secured a deal in principle for Norgaard. The £7m agreement with Arsenal for the Danish midfielder underscores Everton’s willingness to invest in midfield control, but the front line remains a priority. Wheatley’s potential arrival would add depth to a forward unit currently reliant on Dwight McNeil and a rotating cast of youngsters, including Jack Harrison and Anthony Gordon.

United’s midfield reshuffle complicates sales

Manchester United’s pre-season in Stockholm provided a clearer picture of their squad priorities, with Bryan Mbeumo’s brace securing a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid. The Cameroon striker’s goals—one from the penalty spot after Shea Lacey was tripped, the other following a recovery by Jack Fletcher—highlighted United’s reliance on academy talent in attack. Yet the match also underscored the competition for places, particularly in midfield, where players like Mason Mount and Andrey Santos impressed under interim manager Michael Carrick.

United’s midfield jigsaw remains unresolved, with reports suggesting they are still pursuing Aurelien Tchouameni as a potential replacement for Rodri. The Frenchman’s future at Old Trafford is now intertwined with United’s ability to offload other targets, including Altay Bayindir, who has been linked with a move to Celta Vigo. For Wheatley, the path to regular football at United appears narrow, with Marcus Rashford’s decision to stay at the club further reducing opportunities in attack.

What comes next for both clubs

For Everton, Wheatley represents a calculated gamble—one that could pay off if the youngster develops under Lampard’s guidance. The Toffees’ summer has already seen them linked with multiple forwards, including a reported interest in Chelsea’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, though no deal has materialized. With the window open for another three weeks, Lampard may need to move quickly if Wheatley’s valuation rises.

At United, the focus shifts to squad consolidation. Carrick’s side will hope Mbeumo’s form in Stockholm is a sign of things to come, but the lack of a clear-cut starter at striker could push them toward retaining Wheatley—or exploring loan options for other young forwards. The club’s transfer activity has been muted compared to rivals, with sales likely to take precedence over further arrivals.

The Wheatley link is a microcosm of Everton’s broader strategy: identify undervalued talent with upside and integrate them into a system that prioritizes work rate and technical ability. Whether Wheatley fits that mold remains to be seen, but for a club desperate to escape the bottom half, even a partial solution could prove valuable.

Everton’s pursuit of Wheatley is the latest twist in a summer of calculated moves, with Lampard’s side balancing ambition and pragmatism. The coming weeks will reveal whether the Toffees can land their man—or if United’s midfield chaos forces their hand elsewhere.

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