Everton and Brighton enquire about Sylla

Everton and Brighton are in a race to sign Union Saint‑Gilloise defender Massiré Sylla, Sport Witness reports via Africa Foot. Both Premier League clubs have already made enquiries for the 21‑year‑old Senegalese. He also attracted earlier interest from AC Milan. He recently signed a new contract at Union Saint‑Gilloise until 2031.

Why Everton target Sylla

Sylla joined Union Saint‑Gilloise from Norwegian side Lyn in January. He has become a regular starter in Belgium. He has played 1,626 minutes in 18 appearances this season. His market value has risen to €5 million, a little over £4 million.

At 6ft 5in and right‑footed, he wins headers, times jumps well and threatens at set pieces. He steps out aggressively, wins duels, reads danger, intercepts, organises the defence and can pass long diagonals. His tackling can be mistimed, allowing quicker forwards to slip past. He looks loose under pressure from high balls and can lose balance after contact.

The Premier League will punish those habits more often than the Belgian league. That profile suits Everton’s back‑line situation. David Moyes has built a sixth‑placed start of 16 points from 10 games, with five clean sheets in the first seven matches.

Potential impact and alternatives

James Tarkowski turns 34 next week. Michael Keane is 33. Jarrad Branthwaite’s hamstring problems keep disrupting his availability. Both clubs also chase Atlético Mineiro’s 18‑year‑old Brazilian centre‑back Vitão, who is 6ft 4in and won the 2025 CONMEBOL Under‑17 Championship.

Vitão has only recently broken into Atlético’s senior side. Should Everton make Sylla their priority centre‑back target? A photo shows Sylla watching a UEFA Europa League 2026/27 match against Hapoel Beer‑Sheva at the Merkur Spiel‑Arena on 22 October 2026 in Düsseldorf, Germany. Experts say he should be signed as a first‑team player, not a project.

Tarkowski and Keane have both extended their contracts, but neither is getting quicker. Branthwaite’s record makes him impossible to rely on. Sylla offers Moyes height at set pieces and a front‑foot defending style. His rash tackling would need coaching because Premier League wingers exploit a defender who lunges.

Vitão is the less sensible chase. An 18‑year‑old with little senior experience cannot cover for injuries this season. Everton should not tie up a squad place on a player who needs two years to develop. At a little over £4 million, Sylla costs little enough that Everton can afford to be wrong, and that low risk should settle the argument.