Everton will reportedly look to sign 22-year-old French defender Maxime Esteve from EFL Championship club Burnley in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Alan Nixon of The Sun, Maxime Esteve is the subject of interest from Everton. The Toffees are scouring the market for a centre-back heading into the summer transfer window. So, the Burnley defender has emerged as a target for the Merseyside outfit, with the EFL Championship club valuing him at over £30 million.
Maxime Esteve and his impact at Burnley
Maxime Esteve has been a solid performer since joining Burnley from Montpellier. The Clarets initially signed the Frenchman on a loan deal for the second half of the 2023/24 season. While the Montpellier native could not stop Burnley from suffering relegation from the Premier League, he has played his part in the Lancashire club having the best defensive record in the EFL Championship this term.
The Clarets are third in the EFL Championship standings, conceding only nine goals in 33 EFL Championship outings thus far. The 22-year-old has been instrumental in Burnley’s mind-boggling defensive output, playing almost every minute of the club’s 2024/25 Championship campaign.
Meanwhile, the French defensive prospect’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs across Europe. Premier League clubs, in particular, are keen on signing the youngster, with Tottenham Hotspur contemplating a late winter swoop and Everton now considering a move in the summer transfer window.
Premier League return on the horizon?
Everton’s interest in Maxime Esteve is understandable. The Toffees are scouring the market for a centre-back heading into the summer transfer window. While James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite have been exceptional at the heart of the defence, David Moyes’s options beyond the duo do not inspire much confidence.
So, amid Branthwaite’s links with several Premier League bigwigs, Everton must scour the market for a top-class centre-back. Esteve has thus emerged as a viable target for Everton, with Burnley demanding over £30 million to part ways with the 22-year-old Frenchman.
Everton might not have the required leeway on the Profit and Sustainability Rules front to afford a deal of £30 million-plus to sign the French defender. Instead, they might have to cash in on Branthwaite to manage a move for the Burnley centre-back.
