(Credit: Imago)
Sun 10 May 2026 20:30, UK
Maxime Esteve could be an ideal addition for Everton as they look to bolster their backline ahead of next season.
The centre-back has been one of the more promising performers for Burnley amid their disappointing campaign, which has seen them relegated well before the end of the Premier League season.
The 23-year-old is sure to be a man in demand this summer, with Burnley likely to be susceptible to offers for their key man after falling straight back into the Championship.
Bayer Leverkusen are already showing an interest in the former Montpellier man, while Everton are long-term admirers and have been linked with him in previous windows.
Everton are in the market for new defenders this summer, with that area of their squad lacking depth this term, and stats show that Esteve would be a perfect fit for David Moyes’ group.
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Maxime Esteve superior to Michael Keane and Jake O’Brien in key area
Moyes’ men have made great strides on the pitch this season, as the prospect of European qualification has remained on the table for them right into the final stages of the campaign.
The Toffees placed a big focus on adding more exciting attacking players to their group last summer, but their progress on the pitch has still been built upon stability at the back.
StatsEsteveTarkowskiKeaneApps (Starts)32 (32)34 (34)30 (26)Tackles404332Interceptions352834Clearances209224185Aerial Duels Won %68.4%70.3%62.7%Dribbled Past151310Esteve’s 2025-26 Premier League stats compared to Tarkowski and Keane, as per Fotmob.
Their backline have already kept an impressive 11 league clean sheets in 2025-26, and their focus this summer will be on adding more depth rather than overhauling their options in that area.
Everton’s current centre-back options all read the game well and bring significant aerial prowess, and for that reason, Esteve would surely be an ideal option to slot into their ranks.
The Frenchman fits the profile of centre-back that Everton have typically enjoyed in recent years, and his record of winning 68.4 per cent of his aerial duels this term is comfortably better than that of both Michael Keane and Jake O’Brien.
He is also within touching distance of James Tarkowski in that department, while he has also made more interceptions than all three Toffees men.
Esteve has been viewed as a strong option by Moyes and the recruitment department in recent years, and it is surely a no-brainer for them to try to make a move for him this summer.
Esteve a more affordable option than Everton’s other centre-back targets
Football Insider revealed on Friday that Everton may find it difficult to make moves for John Stones and Ben White this summer, due to the wages that both stars are likely to demand.
The Toffees are likely to try to make a significant financial commitment to secure Jack Grealish again for next term, and that is likely to mean that cost-effective options may need to be taken elsewhere.
Esteve would be a more realistic centre-back target for the Merseysiders, and he would surely welcome the chance to stay in the Premier League rather than return to the Championship.
Burnley rate the defender highly, so would demand a decent fee to let him go, but long-term he would be a far cheaper option than Stones or White.
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