Everton move for Rico Lewis as Man City poised to cash in

Tell you what, this could be a proper bit of business from Everton. The word doing the rounds is that Manchester City are ready to listen on Rico Lewis — and the Toffees have moved to the front of the queue for a player Pep Guardiola once raved about as a rare talent. Reports even suggest new boss Enzo Maresca has given his sign-off to an exit if the money’s right.

Everton’s right-back riddle

David Moyes wants a natural right-back. With Seamus Coleman gone at the end of his deal and Nathan Patterson expected to follow him out, it’s a glaring hole in the XI. Jake O’Brien has filled in since Moyes arrived, honest shift and all that, but the manager fancies a specialist — and Lewis is high on his list.

Lewis at a crossroads

At City last season, Lewis saw minutes dry up as Guardiola experimented, even using Matheus Nunes on the right more often than not. The 21-year-old remains a modern full-back in the purest sense — comfortable stepping into midfield, neat in tight pockets, tidy on the turn, and switched on defensively. That profile screams Moyes-ball in 2026: compact, clever, and brave enough to play under pressure.

The numbers and the noise

According to TEAMtalk, Everton are the most aggressive suitors, with Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Fulham also circling. City’s stance? They’re understood to prefer a permanent sale and want around £30m rather than a loan. There’s also talk of Everton trying to bring Jack Grealish back after last season’s loan success — a separate track, but it does underline the ambition around Goodison.

If you’re scanning the best betting sites, you’ll notice a Lewis deal would nudge Everton’s top-half and European-chasing odds in the right direction. The market can sniff a fit when it sees one.

Would he start? Absolutely

Drop Lewis in at right-back and he upgrades Everton on day one. He can invert, he can overlap, and he won’t panic 1v1. In a side that won’t monopolise the ball like City, his engine and positioning become even more valuable. He gives Moyes flexibility too — cover in midfield when required without losing defensive shape.

The pundit’s verdict

This has the feel of a move that suits everyone: City bank a tidy fee for an academy gem whose path is blocked, while Everton get a ready-made starter who fits the manager’s demands. The only caveat? Competition is real, and once a market wakes up to a player with this ceiling, the price and pace both quicken. If the Toffees are serious, now’s the time to press the accelerator.

Bottom line

Everton want Rico Lewis, Lewis needs minutes, and City are open for business. Should the numbers land where City want them, expect this one to gather speed — and if Goodison gets its man, that right flank suddenly looks a lot more Premier League-proof.