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Everton Now Linked With £17m Wing-Back: Does David Moyes Need Him?
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- Everton Now Linked With £17m Wing-Back: Does David Moyes Need Him?
Everton Now Linked With £17m Wing-Back: Does David Moyes Need Him?
Everton have stepped up their pursuit of Genoa right-back Brooke Norton-Cuffy . Representatives and intermediaries connected to the Italian side are already locked in fresh talks. Genoa look ready to sell the 22-year-old this summer if someone meets their valuation. They want around €20 million, which pans out at roughly £17 million.
Everton eye Genoa right-back Brooke Norton-Cuffy this summer
It is a price tag that sits comfortably within the current budget at Goodison Park, and club chiefs view it as a highly realistic target. The player is keen too. A return to the Premier League holds massive appeal, especially with the guarantee of regular top-flight minutes on the table. Settling into the dressing room should be a breeze. He already knows several faces in David Moyes 's squad, having shared pitches with Tyrique George , Tyler Dibling , and Hayden Hackney during his time with the England Under-21s.
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Born in Pimlico and polished in the Arsenal academy system, Norton-Cuffy built his reputation the hard way. He ground out dirty minutes in the Championship during loan spells at Lincoln, Rotherham, Coventry, and Millwall. Then Genoa called. Moving to Serie A is usually a daunting leap for a young British defender. He handled it. Last season, Brooke Norton-Cuffy racked up 2,216 minutes across 27 appearances, starting 25 times after making a debut against Atalanta. Two goals and an assist across the campaign showed his attacking intent, even if a couple of red cards and discipline issues showed he still has a bit of rawness.
Does Moyes actually need him?
BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA – JUNE 28: Brooke Norton-Cuffy of U21 England celebrates with the UEFA European Under-21 Championship trophy after his team's victory in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2025 Final match between England and Germany at National Football stadium on June 28, 2025 in Bratislava, Slovakia. (Photo by Christian Hofer/Getty Images)
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That brings us to the real question. Does Moyes actually need him? The right-back spot is already looking incredibly crowded, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka is still the primary target for that role. Rico Lewis and Djed Spence are hovering on the radar, too. Bringing Norton-Cuffy into that mix feels less like strategic squad building and more like a club struggling to make a definitive choice.
The money makes sense, of course. Nobody is disputing that £17 million for a full international youth prospect who won the Under-21 Euros is a fair price. But Everton have glaring holes elsewhere. The club broke the bank for Hackney and shelled out over £20 million for Tyrique George, while Jack Grealish 's situation drags on without a resolution. A new striker to support the frontline looks far more urgent, with Liam Delap the name currently doing the rounds.
You also have to wonder if a player coming from a Genoa defence that shipped goals for fun near the foot of the table is ready for a team chasing a top-half finish in England. The raw talent is obvious. The potential is a complete mystery. If the Wan-Bissaka deal collapses and this is just a backup plan, the money looks decent. If he is meant to be the main man on the right side of defence, the Friedkin Group backing should allow Moyes to aim higher.
