Tim Iroegbunam transfer would meet first Sean Dyche demand at Everton

Everton have been linked with a move for Tim Iroegbunam but what might the Aston Villa midfielder offer Sean Dyche’s side?

The ECHO's own Everton correspondent Joe Thomas has reported that the Blues are understood to be exploring a deal for Iroegbunam and Villa are open to his exit this summer. Born in Great Barr in the West Midlands, Iroegbunam started his career at West Bromwich Albion but after just one unused appearance on the bench for a Premier League game against Leeds United in 2021, he moved to Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee.

Capped by England at Under-19s and Under-20s level, Iroegbunam made 15 of his 19 appearances for Villa last season having returned from a season-long loan spell at Queens Park Rangers in the previous campaign, netting twice in 32 Championship matches. Although the youngster was not a regular in Unai Emery’s side, Comparisonator’s A.I. Defensive Index ranks him in first place in his position in the Premier League last season with a score of 353 to top Liverpool pair Alexis Mac Allister (292) and Wataru Endo (264) while he comes in eighth in the A.I. Main Index on 376, a category led by Manchester City’s Rodri on 555.

Iroegbunam’s ability to work hard out of possession is evidenced by him being at number one among his peers for ball recoveries per 90 minutes with an average score of 13.35 which puts him above Mac Allister (11.59) and Manchester United’s Casemiro (10.78). He also has the most ball recoveries in his own half (9.87), ahead of Casemiro (7.41) and Fulham’s Joao Palhinha (6.61) and interceptions in the opposition half (2.9) which is a greater number than Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (2.06) and Mac Allister (1.81).

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Further battling attributes are displayed through Iroegbunam leading the way for defensive ground duels won per 90 minutes (8.13), ahead of Nottingham Forest’s Ryan Yates (6.66) and Mac Allister (6.58) and a fourth-place ranking for duels won (11.03) behind Yates (13.07); Mac Allister (11.69) and Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes (11.38).

With Amadou Onana attracting attention from the likes of Arsenal and the Belgium international arguably being the most-palatable option for an Everton exit to raise major funds this summer, Dyche and director of football Kevin Thelwell, who have already let go Andre Gomes and Dele, are looking for reinforcements in the engine room and there is understood to be interest in taking Manchester City’s England international Kalvin Phillips on loan.

Iroegbunam could represent a youthful option in the centre of the park who would be eager for game time to develop in the seasons ahead and given Dyche said when he was first appointed that he wanted players to have sweat on their shirts, the Blues boss might appreciate those impressive defensive numbers.

*Comparisonator is a football data comparison tool from 271 professional leagues around the world which compares players and clubs by utilising over 100 different parameters. Click here for more details.