John Egan has enjoyed a remarkable season in the Premier League. Having been promoted with a Sheffield United team who were widely tipped to go straight back down, they have no doubt been the surprise package of the division.
They currently sit in fifth place in the table, only four points off the Champions League places.
Their four Irish players have been a huge reason for this success. David McGoldrick has been fantastic up front despite his lack of goals. Enda Stevens has established himself as one of the premier wing backs in the division with his marauding runs forward and solidity in defence. Callum Robinson has also contributed.
Many feel that John Egan is the glue that holds the entire team together. Playing in the centre of a back three, he is the one tasked with making sure things click defensively. With his defensive partners often venturing forward in the 'overlapping centre backs' system, Egan is often left in dangerous situations.
It rarely troubles the Cork native. He has been rock solid, impressing with some massive performances as Sheffield United secured a number of big results.
Unsurprisingly, many have stood up and took notice of his form.
According to The Mirror, Carlo Ancelotti has identified Egan as a potential first signing after arriving at Everton. Everton are badly in need of some defensive reinforcements, with the likes of Michael Keane and Yerry Mina struggling badly at times this season.
Ancelotti would no doubt have been promised some major backing in the transfer market over the next couple of windows, with Everton desperate to challenge for European places.
At 27-years old Egan is now reaching his peak. He joined Sunderland in 2009, but failed to make a single appearance for the first team. He would then move down the leagues to Gillingham, before earning a move to Brentford.
It is here that he would really start to impress, with Sheffield United convinced to spend a then club record fee to bring the player to Bramall Lane.
Everton would no doubt be able to offer the player a far more lucrative wage than what he is currently on, although it is believed Sheffield United have offered the player a new deal. How attractive a proposition Everton would be now is also up for debate.
His current club would also no doubt seek a very sizeable fee, one that would likely break the current Irish record of Robbie Keane's £20million move to Liverpool back in 2008.
Egan has established himself at international level this season and would now have to be considered one of the first names of Mick McCarthy's team sheet. He captained the side in the friendly against Bulgaria, while the defender has also worn the armband for The Blades on occasion.
Despite their limited resources, Chris Wilder remains confident the club can hang onto their best players:
I’d think that 75 per cent of clubs in this division, and possibly more, in financial terms, could offer better deals...
We want to keep our best players. We want to continue building and I’m grateful to the board for their support in that.
