Why Everton could land Barcelona ace in January
Published:
Everton could welcome Gerard Deulofeu back to Goodison Park in the New Year with Barcelona concerned his current loan deal with Sevilla is not working out.
The Spaniard played 29 times during a loan spell with the Merseyside club last term and impressed manager Roberto Martinez enough for the Everton gaffer to make attempts to retain his services.
However, keen to get him some game time in La Liga, Barcelona recalled the 20-year-old and promptly sent him out on loan to Sevilla.
The move has not worked out as planned though, with Deulofeu playing just 17 minutes of football so far this season.
This lack of game time is concerning both the player and his parent club and as such the Catalan giants could seek an alternative move in the New Year, with Everton at the front of the queue.
The Toffees managed to keep most of the successful squad from last season intact after completing permanent moves for Romelu Lukaku and Gareth Barry, but Martinez brought in Muhamed Besic after seeing his pursuit of Deulofeu fall short.
However, Besic has played just three minutes of Premier League football, coming on as a late substitute against both Chelsea and West Brom, suggesting there is still room for Deulofeu at Goodison.
The Toffees picked up their first win of the season after beating West Brom at the weekend but after seeing his side concede 10 goals in their opening four matches and pick up just five of a possible 12 points Martinez will be concerned about his side’s prospects of equalling or improving on last year’s fifth-place finish.
With the £28m Lukaku fee talking a sizeable chunk out of Everton’s transfer funds, a loan deal for Deulofeu would represent a good move for all concerned.
The Toffees are in Europa League action tomorrow at home to Wolfsburg and priced as the evens favourites for victory, with a win for the Germans available at 13/5 and the draw priced at 12/5.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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