Dyche’s Old Faithful: Will McNeil Follow Him to Forest?

File this under classic Dyche: the Nottingham Forest boss is being strongly backed to make a move for Dwight McNeil, one of his most trusted lieutenants from Burnley and Everton. The winger, 26, hasn’t had the smoothest run under David Moyes this season, with Illiman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish edging the wide berths, and the tea leaves suggest a reunion could be on the cards.

Wyness backs the reunion

Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness has told Football Insider he can see Dyche and McNeil linking up again, pointing to the player’s graft and importance during those grim relegation battles at Goodison Park. In short: Dyche trusts him, McNeil understands the demands, and the fit at the City Ground makes sense. The kicker? Wyness reckons timing is everything — with injuries biting at Everton and AFCON complications, a mid-season move feels unlikely. Circle the summer.

The squad picture at Forest

Here’s the counterpoint. Out wide is where Forest look their most loaded. Callum Hudson-Odoi, Omari Hutchinson, James McAtee, Dilane Bakwa, Morgan Gibbs-White and Dan Ndoye can all operate off the flanks, and several are offering more end product right now than McNeil. Even if you see McNeil as a tuck-in option who can help in central areas, the current midfield mix is arguably stronger — so splashing out there feels like a luxury rather than necessity.

The Dyche factor

McNeil is a manager’s player — diligent without the ball, disciplined in shape, reliable delivery from the left. That’s why Dyche keeps going back to him. If Forest want a floor-raiser who will press, track, and keep the ball moving into good crossing zones, McNeil ticks boxes. But he won’t walk into guaranteed minutes at the City Ground, and that matters when fees and wages are involved.

For those tracking the market and the rumour mill, our weekly flutter guide at best betting sites has this one shaping up as a summer special rather than a January jolt — exactly in line with Wyness’s read on Everton’s short-term needs.

What Everton and McNeil need

Moyes has leaned on other profiles out wide, and McNeil’s minutes have suffered. But Everton’s depth has been tested, and shifting a dependable squad player mid-season is rarely smart. A clean summer window gives everyone clarity — Forest on priorities, Everton on replacements, and McNeil on a role he can actually sink his teeth into.

Verdict

The reunion makes sense for Dyche — familiarity, functionality, and low-risk integration. For Forest’s squad build, though, it feels like a want rather than a need unless there are outgoings. If this happens, expect it when the sun’s out, not while the rain is lashing down in January.