View: Everton would find traits in EFL star that first-team struggler doesn't have

Abdul Fatawu would provide considerable more attacking threat for Everton than what they’re getting from Dwight McNeil.

The 22-year-old has been part of a Leicester City team that has endured a miserable 2025-26 season, which has already seen their relegation to League One confirmed.

For a football club that finished eighth in the Premier League for the 2021-22 campaign, to see them now preparing for life in the third tier is shocking to say the least.

As such, a massive clear-out of their playing squad will no doubt take place this summer, as many will either be on wages that the Foxes can’t take into League One, or will have no interest in playing at that level.

Fatawu is sure to be one of those Leicester players heading out the door, and Everton could land a transfer bargain with the Ghana international.

Abdul Fatawu and Dwight McNeil’s 2025-26 stats compared

Everton have had a good season in the Premier League, and could yet still be a great one if David Moyes‘ side can qualify for European football.

However, there have still been a handful of players who either haven’t lived up to expectations of them this term, or have taken a step backwards from their previous production and impact.

One of those who comes under the latter is McNeil, with the 26-year-old winger having endured a disappointing 2025-26 campaign.

He’d provided five goals and six assists from 23 total appearances last season, but with 24 games played so far this term, he’s yet to score a single goal and has just one assist to his name.

As such, McNeil could be sold by Everton this summer, as an upgrade on the right wing looks sure to be a major transfer priority for the Toffees ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Fatawu could be had for a relative bargain price considering the Foxes’ relegation, and as evidenced by their respective underlying numbers via FotMob, he would be a considerable improvement on McNeil down that flank.

The Leicester winger has created 56 chances in the Championship this season, whereas the Everton star has just 15 in the Premier League.

Fatawu has taken 71 shots, has completed 2.78 dribbles per 90 and has an expected assists of 6.31, whilst McNeil has registered just 12 shots on goal, has 0.54 completed dribbles per 90 and has an expected assists of 1.92.

In a Leicester team that will finish the season 23rd of 24 in the Championship, Fatawu has still managed to score nine goals and provide seven assists from 44 appearances, which is a fantastic return given the circumstances there.

Swapping Fatawu for McNeil is Everton no-brainer

Fatawu’s production for the Foxes this season has been superb, and he’s the type of player who is just a constant and relentless threat in the final third.

Direct, quick, skilful and unselfish, the Ghanaian has just about the total package that you would look for in a winger, and he’d certainly offer something totally different down Everton’s right.

Indeed, he’s cut from a similar cloth to Iliman Ndiaye, who had also proven himself to be a top player in the Championship before Everton signed him in the summer of 2024.

McNeil has been a good servant, but he looks a player drained of confidence and energy, whereas Fatawu would provide an instant injection of both those traits to Hill Dickinson Stadium in that position.

Still only 22, he could also be the kind of signing that blossoms into a star player at top flight level, and thus could bankroll the Toffees with major profits in a few years’ time.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

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