Kanu expresses surprise that Arsenal allowed Iwobi to go to Everton
Former Arsenal star Nwankwo Kanu has explained that he was left “surprised” by Alex Iwobi’s deadline day transfer to Everton in 2019.
The Nigeria international was brought to Goodison Park on the final day of the summer transfer window in 2019, moving from the Emirates for a deal worth up to £34million.
The 24-year old was brought to the club at a time in which Everton were desperate to bring pace and creativity to their group of attackers, with a move for Wilfried Zaha failing before the club landed on Iwobi. [Sky Sports]
Speaking to Ladbrokes ahead at their 5-A-Side Bet launch this week (via Metro Sport), Kanu expressed his surprise that his compatriot made the move from North London to Merseyside.
Kanu said: “I was surprised they [Arsenal] let Alex Iwobi go when they did.
“He was supposed to be a part of this team and I think they’d be a better team with him in it. He’s Arsenal blood and he’s always given his all for the team.
“He plays at an international level. I believe he’d be much more comfortable in this Arsenal team than he is in the Everton team.”
Unexpected move
For all the world it seemed as though Everton were destined to land Wilfried Zaha during the summer of 2019, such was the intensity of their reported interest.
Zaha seemed to be Everton’s first and only choice right up until the final day when Iwobi’s name was first mentioned, leading to his signing coming in under the wire.
Iwobi has certainly found regular game time difficult to come by on Merseyside, having suffered dips in form and confidence under both Marco Silva and Carlo Ancelotti.
That has led some to question his long-term viability as an option at Goodison Park, with former Everton defender Michael Ball indicating earlier this week that Ancelotti doesn’t trust the versatile forward.
Iwobi definitely seemed to settle better at Arsenal, with Ian Wright previously calling him a ‘massive asset‘ for the Gunners, though he wasn’t ever able to establish himself as a certain starter at the Emirates either.
Should Everton continue to pursue a winger this summer Iwobi could find himself further down the pecking order at Everton, and that could further bring his future at the club into question.
In other Everton news, club is willing to sell Everton target, fee established for ‘absolute predator’.
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