'Here We Go': Crystal Palace and Tottenham £42m transfer hijacked by Premier League rival

Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace are set to miss out on the signing of Southampton hotshot Tyler Dibling this summer with Premier League rivals Everton beating the London outfits to the deal in somewhat of a transfer twist.

The 19-year-old was a standout star in an otherwise underwhelming top flight campaign for the Saints last season and had been expected to make an immediate return to the top flight. Dibling made 33 Premier League appearances across the 2024/25 season but was in and out of the starting XI.

The attacking midfielder has made just one appearance for the Saints so far this season, afforded a seven minute cameo in the 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town last weekend. That is set to be the teenager’s last minutes for Southampton with a transfer imminent.

Everton set to secure Tyler Dibling transfer

Taking to social media platform X on Friday evening, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano wrote: “Tyler Dibling to Everton, here we go! Deal in place for talented winger to join #EFC after long negotiations. Verbal agreement at £42m plus sell-on clause to Southampton, long term deal for Dibling agreed back in July. Formal steps next, as @ElBobble @_pauljoyce reported.”

That’s a major coup for Everton and David Moyes with the Toffees beating serious Premier League competition. Crystal Palace and Spurs had been credited with concrete interest this week with Eberechi Eze heading to Arsenal on a £67.5 million deal.

The loss of Eze has left the Eagles needing to replace a star man with manager Oliver Glasner pleading for more ‘creativity’ in his side following the Europa Conference League win over Fredrikstad on Monday night. Meanwhile, it has looked as if Tottenham Hotspur were on the verge of signing Eze this week before the Gunners stole in, with Thomas Frank needing an extra body in midfield following an injury to James Maddison.

Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur beaten to Southampton hotshot

Sky Sports had claimed that Crystal Palace paused transfer interest in Leicester City man Bilal El Khannouss amid a £32 million fee being agreed with the Foxes in order to pursue a move for Dibling. The Independent had reported that Tottenham Hotspur had also made an approach for the player.

It is, however, Everton who are set to triumph with the highly-rated player on his way to Merseyside. Speaking about Dibling last season, Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy said: "It is the quality he has got - the belief in himself and the physical power. He just goes past people with ease. He has got a lovely left foot. He is very brave on the ball and his decision-making is good.

"It is difficult to get too over the top with these young players, because he has just come on to the scene, but he is going to be something special. It is great for him getting all these minutes at Southampton. They are giving him the freedom to play and giving him time to learn the game. He is just enjoying himself and he is playing with a real belief in himself. He is just instrumental in this team."

In other news, Nottingham Forest sign midfielder 'better than Declan Rice' ahead of Crystal Palace and West Ham.