Jake O’Brien weighing Everton exit as Premier League clubs show interest
With the window ticking into its final week, Jake O’Brien has suddenly become one of the most intriguing Irish names on the market.
Twelve months ago, the Cork defender looked like a cornerstone at Everton. A key figure at Hill Dickinson Stadium last season, he played his way into David Moyes’ plans and nailed down a starting role. The assumption was simple: O’Brien would be part of the long-term spine on Merseyside.
That picture has blurred fast.
O’Brien wants to play at centre back. That is where he sees his future, where he believes he can make the biggest impact. Yet Moyes has consistently locked in James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite in the middle, pushing O’Brien almost exclusively to right back throughout last season.
He performed strongly there, effectively Everton’s first-choice right back. But it hasn’t settled the issue. Instead, it has sharpened it.
Both club and player are now understood to be open to a move before the deadline, with O’Brien exploring options that would guarantee him regular minutes in his preferred role. As things stand, his future is very much in play.
Leeds and Palace in the hunt
The interest has arrived quickly.
English and European clubs are tracking the 23-year-old, but a Premier League move is viewed as the most realistic outcome given the fee and wages involved. Football Insider report that Leeds United have stepped into the race, while former club Crystal Palace are also keen on bringing him back.
Everton, though, are not ready to simply cash in. Any sale is expected to hinge on them landing a new right back before the window shuts. Seamus Coleman’s departure in the summer has already thinned their options, and the club have been actively searching for reinforcements on that flank for months.
At the weekend, Merlin Röhl started at right back in the win over Crystal Palace. He did a job, but it is not his natural position either. Letting O’Brien go without a replacement would leave Everton badly exposed on that side.
It would also bite into their centre-back depth. Behind Tarkowski and Branthwaite, there are only three other senior central options in the squad. Losing a versatile defender who can cover both roles would be a significant gamble.
Everton’s dilemma, O’Brien’s decision
This is where the tension lies.
From O’Brien’s perspective, the situation is clear enough. He is not first choice in the middle of defence, and Everton are actively trying to upgrade at right back. Stay, and he risks drifting into a squad role. Move, and he can anchor a back line somewhere else.
From Everton’s side, he is both an asset and a safety net. A fee in the region of £20 million is thought to be enough to secure his signature, but the club want to strengthen before they weaken. Any green light on a sale is expected to come only after they have bolstered the back four.
Leeds and Crystal Palace are not alone in watching closely. Sunderland have also been credited with an interest, adding another possible destination if he opts to step away from the Premier League for guaranteed minutes and a central role.
What is not in doubt is that O’Brien will have options. A solid season at right back, his age profile, and his versatility make him an attractive late-window target.
Now comes the squeeze. Everton need a right back. O’Brien needs a pathway at centre back. The market rarely waits.
The next few days will decide whether he remains a frustrated utility man at Hill Dickinson Stadium, or walks into a new dressing room as a £20 million solution to someone else’s defensive puzzle.
