The Toffees and Hammers have both signed three players in recent weeks.
Both Everton and West Ham will be looking to bolster their squads in the hopes of having a stronger season next time around.

Last season, the Toffees battled relegation once more, while the Hammers failed to qualify for Europe after three seasons in European action.

Now, Fabrizio Romano has supplied a significant update on a “excellent” player coveted by both Everton and West Ham this summer.

READ MORE: Fabrizio Romano relays Mats Hummels update amid links to Tottenham, Chelsea, Newcastle, West Ham, and Everton

Everton plans to capture West Ham target Jake O’Brien.
The player in question is Jake O’Brien, a Republic of Ireland defender who helped Lyon avoid relegation from Ligue 1 last season.

Although West Ham signed Max Kilman, the club is allegedly still hunting for defensive reinforcements.

However, unless there is a spectacular late twist, Everton appears to have beaten them to O’Brien’s signature.

Romano took to X for two straight updates on the Toffees’ pursuit of the Irishman.

In the first, a transfer insider said Everton had reached an agreement in principle with Lyon for O’Brien.

Just 11 minutes later, Romano claimed that O’Brien is “also ready to accept the five-year contract” that Everton has offered.

Medical tests are now scheduled for either Sunday or Monday, and Romano closed by adding “here we go”.
Jake O’Brien, a 23-year-old defender for French Ligue 1 club Lyon, also represents the Republic of Ireland internationally.

The 6ft 5in behemoth came up through the ranks at Irish club Cork City before joining Crystal Palace’s academy in 2021, where he played on loan for many clubs.

Lyon signed O’Brien last year for €1 million (£850,000), and despite joining as a future potential, he soon established himself as an important player for Les Gones.

He made it

He appeared in 32 games across all competitions, scoring four goals in Ligue 1 and ending as the club’s second-highest league scorer, trailing only striker and captain Alexandre Lacazette.

Scouting Outlet Total Football Analysis compared O’Brien’s playing style to that of Stefan de Vrij, Chris Smalling, and Virgil van Dijk.

“He is a CB with excellent positioning and an understanding of different roles and systems.” Chris Beaumont writes about TFA.

Capable of playing in a back-three as the middle CB controlling his line and as an RCB in a back-four.

‘He maintains appropriate body positions for each action. He defends from behind by jumping proactively off his line and with decent technique.

‘He possesses the awareness to catch opponents sprinting on his blind side and covers teammates in wide channels, allowing him to get to the ball first due to his great stride and timing.

‘In defensive duels, he is focused on the ball and demonstrates outstanding skills in pushing defenders away cleanly while using his body positively.

‘He’s imposing in the air, clearing long passes and crosses with ease thanks to his – very – tall stature.’