Alious
Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche has been linked with a possible move for Everton winger Dwight McNeil, with transfer insider Keith Wyness suggesting a reunion between the pair could be on the cards in the near future.
Dyche spent two years in charge at Goodison Park between January 2023 and January 2025, a period in which McNeil played a significant role as Everton battled to retain their Premier League status. The winger was a trusted figure in Dyche’s system and was widely regarded as one of the more consistent performers during two relegation survival campaigns.
However, McNeil’s situation has changed this season under current Everton boss David Moyes. The 26-year-old has struggled to secure regular minutes, with Illiman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish now preferred as first-choice wide options. As a result, speculation has grown that McNeil could be moved on, opening the door for a reunion with Dyche at the City Ground.
McNeil originally joined Everton from Burnley in July 2022, having previously worked under Dyche at Turf Moor. Their professional relationship carried over to Merseyside, where McNeil was again a key cog in Dyche’s plans. Now, with Dyche looking to shape Nottingham Forest in his own image, McNeil has reportedly emerged as a potential target.
Speaking to *Football Insider*, former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness said he expects Dyche to turn to familiar faces when strengthening his squad. Wyness highlighted Dyche’s loyalty to players who understand his methods and respond well to his demands, pointing to examples such as James Tarkowski.
According to Wyness, McNeil does not always receive the recognition he deserves for his contributions during Everton’s relegation battles, describing him as a “wonderful” player who was vital at key moments. He also suggested McNeil’s style and work ethic would suit Forest well, especially given Dyche’s preference for players he trusts.
That said, Wyness believes timing could be crucial. With Everton dealing with injuries and the disruption of the Africa Cup of Nations, a January move may be unlikely. Instead, he feels a summer transfer is more realistic, though he remains confident the reunion will eventually happen.
Despite the speculation, there are questions about whether McNeil would actually be needed at Nottingham Forest. Wide areas are arguably Forest’s strongest positions, with options such as Callum Hudson-Odoi, Omari Hutchinson, James McAtee, Dilane Bakwa, Morgan Gibbs-White and Dan Ndoye already providing quality and depth.
Given that many of those players are currently more productive, investing in another wide attacker could be seen as unnecessary. Even in central areas, Forest appear well stocked, raising doubts about where McNeil would fit.
For some Forest supporters, the fact that McNeil is no longer a regular starter at Everton — a side many believe Forest now surpass on paper — may be telling. While Dyche’s admiration for the winger is clear, any move would need to make sense tactically and financially, or risk being viewed as sentiment over substance.
Alious
