Everton in Talks with Burnley for Zian Flemming Transfer
Everton has begun negotiations with Burnley regarding the possible acquisition of Dutch forward Zian Flemming, according to journalist James Hockery. These discussions are currently in the early stages, with Flemming reportedly open to a move to Merseyside. However, Burnley is not willing to sell without securing a significant fee for a player who has become integral to manager Nicky Hayen’s promotion plans.
Everton’s interest appears serious, with manager David Moyes observed scouting Flemming at Turf Moor, highlighting the significance of this potential transfer for the club.
Flemming, 28, has impressive statistics from the 2025/26 season, despite Burnley’s relegation. He managed to score 11 goals in 29 Premier League appearances, achieving a goals-per-90-minute rate of 0.56. In comparison, Everton’s forwards, Beto and Thierno Barry, scored nine and eight goals respectively, showcasing a clear efficiency gap that Moyes has been addressing throughout the summer.
Moreover, Flemming offers a tactical advantage, complementing Moyes’ preferred style of play. Standing over six feet tall, he excels in aerial duels—ranking in the 79th percentile among forwards—and boasts a remarkable 97th percentile for defensive contributions.
While some may argue about his age and lack of international caps, Everton’s current aim is not to invest in a long-term project but to secure a proven goal scorer familiar with the demands of top-flight football. The primary challenge remains Burnley’s demand for a substantial transfer fee, prompting Everton to weigh whether addressing their goal-scoring issues justifies the investment in a player currently competing in the Championship.
Everton have initiated talks with Burnley over a potential transfer for Dutch forward Zian Flemming, according to journalist James Hockery. The discussions are described as early-stage, though Flemming himself is said to be open to making the move to Merseyside. Burnley, however, aren’t rolling over.
The Championship club are holding out for a substantial fee before they consider selling a player who has become absolutely central to Nicky Hayen’s promotion ambitions. Everton’s interest is serious enough that manager David Moyes was personally spotted scouting Flemming at Turf Moor, which tells you everything about where this sits on the priority list at Goodison Park.
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T4O take: Why Everton desperately need this signing
BURNLEY, ENGLAND – APRIL 22: Zian Flemming of Burnley arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor on April 22, 2026 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Flemming’s numbers from 2025/26 are almost impossible to ignore. Burnley were relegated, their season a slow-motion disaster, yet the 28-year-old still managed 11 Premier League goals across 29 appearances, a goals-per-90 rate of 0.56. Everton’s own forwards, Beto and Thierno Barry, posted nine and eight goals respectively, neither matching that efficiency. That gap isn’t marginal. It’s a problem Moyes has been staring at all summer.
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There’s a tactical argument too, and it’s compelling. Flemming isn’t just a goalscorer; he’s physically built to thrive in exactly the kind of system Moyes prefers. Being over six feet tall, he ranks in the 79th percentile for aerial duels won and a staggering 97th percentile for defensive contributions among forwards.
That’s a striker who wins headers, holds up play, presses from the front and drops into midfield pockets when the situation demands it. The word “versatile” gets thrown around too loosely in football, but with Flemming, it’s genuinely earned.
Critics will point to his age, 28, never capped by the Netherlands at any level, and suggest his ceiling is already visible. Fair enough. Everton aren’t shopping for a long-term project, though. They need someone who already knows what it takes to score in the top flight, ideally last season, ideally in a side worse than theirs.
Flemming ticks both boxes. Burnley’s insistence on a premium fee is the one real obstacle. Everton have to decide whether solving a goalscoring problem is worth paying the top price for a player already operating in the Championship.
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