Under Rafael Benitez, Everton sought to sign Daniel Jebbison, a forward who apparently had ties to the Toffees.
On Friday night, Harrison Armstrong gave Preston North End another outstanding performance.
In a thrilling comeback at Deepdale, the Everton teenager assisted PNE in rallying from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2.
Fans of the Toffees who watched will have been impressed by Armstrong and will have recognized some of the players.
One of Armstrong’s teammates came close to joining Everton a few years ago, and the PNE three of Lewis Gibson, Thierry Small, and Lewis Dobbin all had stints there.
Harrison Armstrong and Daniel Jebbison after Everton’s proposal
Some Everton supporters might recall a May 2021 home loss to demoted Sheffield United, which ended in a 1-0 loss.
Daniel Jebbison, a teenager at the time, was used by the Blades in attack, and he scored the game-winning goal to mark his maiden Premier League debut.
Only a few months later, Everton made an attempt to get Jebbison to visit Goodison Park.
Rafael Benitez wanted to sign Jebbison because he thought he could truly turn him into a top striker, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Jebbison, a big and rangy forward who came from Sheffield United, was inevitably compared to Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Prince Abdullah Bin Mosaad Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the owner of the Blades at the time, acknowledged turning down a bid from the Toffees, but the two may have connected at Everton.
Prince Abdullah stated on the Sheff United Way podcast, “We held on to our best players, but we were in desperate need of selling some players to cover the deficit [after relegation from the Premier League].”
“Everton made us an offer for Jebbison, but we didn’t want to sell him because we believe he will be the club’s future,” he continued.
Jebbison stayed with Sheffield United for three more years, during which he only managed one league goal.
Last summer, Bournemouth made a move for Jebbison, and he scored his first goal for the Cherries against—you guessed it—Everton.
Prior to Bournemouth sending Jebbison on loan to PNE for additional experience, that goal was scored in an FA Cup match the previous season.
Paul Heckingbottom, the former manager of Sheffield United, has Jebbison back, and he scored the game-winning goal in Friday’s victory over the Blades.
Although Jebbison has not yet fully matured into the striker Benitez had in mind, he and Armstrong are undoubtedly getting along well in Deepdale.
On his personal relationship with Everton, Daniel Jebbison
Despite missing out on a 2021 transfer to Everton, the Canadian international has a somewhat longer history with the Toffees.
Speaking on PNE’s official website, Jebbison acknowledged receiving an opportunity to join Everton when he was younger.
After selecting Sheffield United, Jebbison scored his first Premier League goal against Everton, leaving the Toffees in his wake.
Jebbison said he truly slept in Everton bed linens the night before his stunning goal at Goodison Park, but he still cherishes the experience.
That, in my opinion, was my greatest “wow” moment. Because I dreamed of that moment, you know,” Jebbison remarked.
Actually, this is a funny story. A very kind man named Bob Bennett provided us with Everton clothing and bed linens when my older brother was on trial at Everton.
For whatever reason, I slept in my Everton bedsheets the night before the game and ended up scoring against them. It’s amazing how life goes; it seems like Everton of all clubs had to be involved,” he continued.
Although Jebbison still has a ways to go in his development, the striker may still make an impression on the Everton manager and become a potential target now that David Moyes is at PNE to watch Armstrong.
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