Everton star could leave in final week of window amid interest from Italy and Turkey

Everton will listen to offers for Jake O’Brien in the final days of the transfer window, talkSPORT understands.

O’Brien is keen to leave the club after being forced to play at right-back for the Toffees for the last two seasons.

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David Moyes has been playing the 25-year-old, who is naturally a centre-back, on the right of his back four.

But that seems to be part of the reason why he now wants to depart Goodison Park before the transfer deadline.

O’Brien admitted that he was okay playing in the make-shift position as long as he was starting when speaking in December.

However, he did say that he wanted to ‘eventually go back to playing centre-back week-in, week-out’ in the same interview.

And he could now make a move away from the club to try and find a team where he can do that in the final days of the window.

O’Brien wants Everton exit

O’Brien was an unused substitute for Everton in their opening game of the Premier League season against Crystal Palace.

And on a potential move away, talkSPORT’s Senior Football Correspondent Ben Jacobs explained: “Everton are expected to listen to offers and this is a potential exit driven more by the player than the club.

“The Republic of Ireland international wants to start more regularly and, crucially, not be a make-shift right-back.

“Some footballers will say they’ll play anywhere, but at his age, peak age, there’s a real desire to move into that central defensive role, and I’m not so sure that Everton can guarantee him that particular position.

“You’ve got Jarrad Branthwaite, James Tarkowski as well… and the fact that O’Brien was an unused substitute in the opening victory over Crystal Palace shows you he needs to find another option if he wants to play every single week.”

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Who could Jake O’Brien sign for?

O’Brien has made 57 Premier League appearances for Everton and made 27 appearances in Ligue 1 during his stint with Lyon.

So, he boasts plenty of top-flight experience and Jacobs thinks he will have plenty of clubs looking at signing him.

“What I’m told is that there’s some interest from Italy,” he said.

“There have been some initial approaches from Turkey as well, and Crystal Palace took a look early in the window as well.

“So, he won’t be short of options and it’s fair to say that if he finds a move in the next few days, then Everton won’t stand in his way.”

Benfica are also understood to be a potential option for O’Brien, with the Portuguese giants aware that O’Brien is now available.